Safely Dispose of Unused Prescription Medications

Safely Dispose of Unused Prescription Medications

Published on April 22, 2026

Denver - Wednesday, April 22, 2026 - The Denver Police Department (DPD) encourages residents to check their medicine cabinets for unwanted/unused medications and to drop them off at one of eight participating Denver Police locations for National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday, April 25, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The goal of this event is to ensure the environmentally safe disposal of prescription medicines and to reduce the likelihood of drug misuse or abuse.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. recorded 86,882 overdose-related deaths between October 2023 and September 2024. As of April 2026, there have been 94 confirmed fatal drug overdose deaths in Denver, according to the Denver Office of the Medical Examiner, a Division of Public Health and Environment. Another study shows that most abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from home medicine cabinets, which is why the Denver Police Department is offering the following locations for residents to safely dispose of their unwanted medications. Denver Police drop off locations:

• District 1 - 1311 West 46th Avenue
• District 2 - 3921 North Holly Street
• District 3 - 1625 South University Boulevard
• District 4 - 2100 South Clay Street
• District 5 - 12025 East 45th Avenue District 6 - 1566 North Washington Street
• King Soopers - 18605 E. Green Valley Ranch Boulevard (DPD partner location)
• Rose Central Park ER - 4930 Wabash Street

NOTE: DPD's Administration Building at 1331 Cherokee St. is not a drop off location.

Please note that these sites cannot accept liquids (including intravenous solutions), syringes and other sharps, and illegal drugs.

During the last Drug Take-Back event in October of 2025, Denver Police collected 642 pounds of unwanted medicines.

For additional information on the program or other drop off locations, please visit https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/takeback.html

• Police Department