Medication Take Back
Medication Take Back Event
During the Medication Take Back Event, the City accepts unused, unwanted, or expired prescription and non-prescription medications. There is no cost to drop off medications and residents may remain anonymous. Each year, the City of Fort Lauderdale sponsors at least one Medication Take-Back Day, usually in coordination with one of our Household Hazardous Waste Disposal events. The event is supervised by the Fort Lauderdale Police Department and the collected medications are destroyed and disposed of in a safe, environmentally friendly manner according to state laws and regulations. Please check back for the date of the next scheduled event.
Steps to Participate
Follow these simple steps to participate:
- Leave all medications in original containers with the name of each medication visible if possible
- Remove all patient identification information by peeling off the prescription label or by blacking out the information with a permanent marker. Remove the doctor's and pharmacy's contact information and any identifying prescription numbers.
- Make sure containers do not leak. Tighten the lids, or for items with loose or missing lids, place them in a plastic bag that can be sealed
What's Accepted
- Over-the-counter medications
- Prescription medications (controlled and non-controlled)
- Medicated syrups, liquids, ointments, shampoos and lotions
- Medication samples
- Medications with no labels
- Pet medications
- Prescription inhalers
- Unknown tablets / caplets
- Nicotine gum and other smoking prevention ingestible
- Unused, unopened "Patches" (intra-dermal medications)
What Not to Bring
- Medical waste, any type
- Thermometers
- Any non-medicated items, such as perfumes and non-medicated soaps
- Injectable solutions
- Syringes and needle/sharps
- Make-up and nail polish, unless medicated
- Aerosol cans
- Chemotherapy/Radioactive substances
- Medications generated from businesses, pharmacies, medical supply outlets and doctor's offices
- Bandages, wound tape, gauze