More than 100 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose, and millions are addicted to opioids. Proper disposal of unused or expired opioids can help save lives.
Remove the Risk
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) launched Remove the Risk, an education and outreach campaign to raise awareness about the serious risks of keeping unused prescription opioids in the home and ways to safely dispose of them.
Why it Matters
Unused opioids—such as hydrocodone, morphine, and oxycodone—are dangerous to have in your home when they are no longer needed. Children or pets can accidentally take unused opioids. Visitors might search for them in your drawers and medicine cabinets.
What Can You Do to Help?
Remove the risk of your unused opioids and help address the devastating opioid crisis affecting so many American families.
Practice these Safe Disposal Tips
- Learn how to dispose of unused or expired drugs
- En Español: Cómo deshacerse de manera segura de medicamentos no utilizados o caducados
- April 30, 2022 is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day: find a disposal site near you
Help Spread the Word
- New Public Service Announcement (PSAs) Videos
- Fact Sheets
- Social Media Graphics and Messaging
- Follow updates and join the conversation on social media using #RemoveOpioidRisk
- Remove the Risk Outreach Toolkit