Consider Donating Before You Throw Away
Drug Donation
Donating drugs is another way to remove unneeded prescription drugs from your home with the added benefits of helping others in need and protecting the environment.
As much as $11 billion in unused medicine is discarded each year.
Nearly 1 in 4 Americans say it is difficult to afford their medications according to KFF.
Medication destruction can cost $1 to $3 per pound, estimates SIRUM.
Where to Donate Medicine
Several state boards of pharmacy will refer you to organizations that accept unused medications and sharps from out-of-state consumers. Contact your state board of pharmacy to learn more about drug donation programs.
You can also contact your local animal shelter, health department, or other local organizations, such as shelters, relief agencies, or religious institutions, to see if they accept medical donations.
Drug Donation Programs:
- National Conference of State Legislatures provides information about state prescription drug repository programs for consumers.
- SIRUM accepts a variety of medication donations from individuals and companies.
- The SafeNetRx medication donation program is Iowa-based and provides drug donation and other medication resources.
How to Donate Medicine
Donating unused medicine can help improve access to care for those without access to medication, and by following the steps below, you can ensure the donation is safely handled.
- Determine if the medicine can be donated. You may need to ship or drop off the medicine.
- If the medication is not eligible for donation, learn about drug disposal options.
- You can check with your state board of pharmacy or your state’s regulations on donating medicine.
- Remove personal information from the label or packaging.
Consider Donating Before Disposing
While disposing of unused prescriptions is a vital step in preventing harmful use, billions of dollars worth of medications that could be used by people in need end up in the trash every year. Many programs are seeking medicines to treat:
- Diabetes
- Cholesterol
- COPD
- High Blood Pressure
- Mental Health
- HIV and Cancer
Learn more about medicine donation and share this flyer to spread the word.
Types of Prescription Drug Donations
Your prescription may be eligible to donate if it is:
- Sealed/unopened
- At least 5 months before its expiration date
- Non-refrigerated
- Non-controlled
Donating Medical Supplies
Unexpired medical supplies, new or gently used durable medical equipment, and biomedical devices are also accepted by many medical supply donation programs. Diabetes and asthma supplies are among the common consumer inquiries.
Medical Supply Donations:
- While American Diabetes Association (ADA) cannot accept diabetes supplies, they have several recommended organizations that accept donated diabetes supplies.
- MedShare provides information about donating medical supplies and equipment.
- Global Links accepts nebulizers, as well as tubing and masks. Learn more about the supplies they accept.