Medication Disposal

Unintentional drug overdose and contamination to our waterways are growing concerns in Oklahoma. Both are consequences of improper medication disposal.

Please dispose of drugs properly; do not flush medications down a toilet. Our wastewater treatment plants are not designed to remove the chemicals found in medications; subsequently, trace amounts of these drugs are discharged into local streams. Long term exposure to these chemicals can be detrimental to aquatic wildlife.

Year-round Drop off Sites:
Medications collected at these sites are incinerated, including packaging.

Tulsa Police Gilcrease Division
3436 N Delaware Ave. Tulsa, OK 74110
(918) 591-4100
Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Tulsa Police Mingo Valley Division
10122 E 11th St. Tulsa, OK 74128
(918) 669-6000
Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Tulsa Police Riverside Division
7515 S Riverside Dr, Tulsa, Ok 74136
(918) 596-1100
Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Tulsa County Sheriff's Office, Faulkner Building
303 W 1st St., Tulsa, OK 74103
(918) 596-5701
Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:15 p.m.

Locations across the state can be found online.

Other Disposal Options:

U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency Tulsa Office, (918) 459-9600, plans to offer two collections a year, possibly April and October. Watch for details through local media sources or call them for more information.

Coalition against Prescription and Substance Abuse Tulsa, (918) 595-4468 Participates with the U.S.DEA sponsored collections, see above. Watch for details through local media sources or call for more information.

The Oklahoma State Board of Pharmacy offers the "DISPOSE MY MEDS" program. You can learn more about this disposal opportunity online. This is an online resource to help you find medication disposal programs at an independent community pharmacy near you.

Click on locator, type in your zip code to see nearest participating pharmacy, and then click on the marker to see the name, address of that pharmacy.

Disposal through City of Tulsa residential trash service: Residential trash collected by the City of Tulsa is burned at the Covanta trash to energy plant. You can easily dispose of medications by placing them in an inconspicuous container, electively mix in an inedible substance like plaster of paris, used coffee grounds or kitty litter, then place the container in your curbside trash for disposal.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How do I protect my identity? If you are concerned, pour the pills, capsules, tablets, liquids into an unmarked plastic sealable bag. Seal it completely (no leaking.) Throw the empty vials and bottles into your trash. If you wish to prevent someone from reading the label, spray paint over the information or use a permanent ink wide felt tip pen to cover the letters and numbers.

Why can't I donate my unneeded medicines to a charity clinic? Your medicines may have exceeded the expiration date printed on the label, possibly making them not effective and/or safe; medicines should be stored at certain temperatures, humidity, and light levels to prevent changes in the chemicals; and it is possible that someone has tampered with your containers. These possible conditions suggest that the best option is to properly destroy them and not use them.

Why should I take my unneeded medicines to a proper disposal site? Unfortunately, legal medicines in household medicine cabinets have become poisons which by accident or by choice are dangerous to infants, children, adults and the elderly. Accidental ingestion, over dosage, improper use and abuse are commonly treated in emergency rooms and the number of deaths in Oklahoma from prescription medications is rising. Store your medications in a safe and secure location that makes the drug more difficult to obtain.  Disposal by flushing or burying in landfills in our eco-system is increasing pollution to unhealthy levels. Our Tulsa disposal programs are safe, legal and are effectively reducing the possibility of improper use and removing large quantities of mediations from our environment.

Did you know that you don't have to fill an entire prescription? Ask your pharmacist to fill part of the prescription. Then, you won't have to deal with disposing of unused medications later.