Med Return

What should you do when your medications expire, or you no longer need them?

The best thing to do is to take them to a community drug take back program for safe and proper disposal. 


Unused or unwanted medication should not be flushed down the toilet, poured down the sink, or even thrown into household garbage. These methods create the potential for pharmaceutical drugs or harmful chemicals to end up in our lakes, rivers, streams, groundwater, and even in our drinking water

Wilmington Police Department
​Available 24/7
129 Robert P. Weidling Drive
​Wilmington, IL 60481

CVS Pharmacy
​Store Hours Only
1101 S. Water St.
​Wilmington, IL 60481

Safe disposal of unwanted and expired medication can also prevent:

ACCIDENTAL DRUG POISONING
Medications are the leading cause of accidental poisonings among children in the United States. Small children and even curious pets may find medicine and put it in their mouths.


THEFT
Prescription pain medications--especially opioid prescription pain and ADHD medications—are targets for theft. Keep tabs on the medicines you have and keep them in a secure place. Safely dispose of medicines you don’t need to have in the house.

ABUSE / MISUSE
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, prescription drug abuse is the fastest-growing drug problem in the United States. Misusing and abusing prescription drugs can lead to addiction and can be especially harmful to the developing bodies and brains of adolescents

DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is another safe and convenient way for communities to dispose of unused or expired medications. Wilmington usually participates in this event by hosting a collection in April. Check the WCHC calendar to learn more about an upcoming event.

For information about safe disposal of needles and sharps, consult your pharmacist. You can also learn more at SafeNeedleDisposal.org.