Where you can safely dispose unused prescription medication in Lane County
The Oregon Health Authority encourages anyone with unused or expired prescription medications to seek safe disposal options, such as returning them to permanent collection sites, at Drug Take Back Day events, or to authorized pharmacies or hospitals.
Safe disposal of unused drugs regardless of type is important to prevent others from using them intentionally or unintentionally.
Improperly disposed medications also can pose significant risks to water quality because they can get into water systems. You should never flush unused medications down the toilet or drain.
Drug collection sites do not accept herbal remedies, vitamins, supplements, medical devices, batteries, mercury-containing thermometers, sharps or illicit drugs.
These are the options for safe medication disposal prescription medications in Lane County:
DEA National Drug Take Back Day held twice a year
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) holds a National Prescription Drug Take Back Day in April and October.
During the 25th Drug Take Back Day in October, 2,995 pounds of unused medications were collected at 17 sites across Oregon, according to the DEA.
The first national event in 2024 will be held April 27. Pharmacy and police department staff will be on-site to assist in safe disposal of unused prescription medications at the following locations
The Eugene VA Health Care Center at 3355 Chad Drive from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the circular driveway of the property.
Lane Community College's Department of Public Safety at 4000 E. 30th Ave., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the west side of building 19 on the main campus.
Year-round drug collection sites in Lane County
These are year-round collection sites in Lane County. Some allow drop-off of unused medication. Others offer free mail-back services.
Visit medtakebackoregon.org and enter your ZIP code for a full list of prescription drug collection sites, their location and hours. For more information or to order mail-back supples, call (844) 482-5322.
This is a partial list of collection sites in Lane County:
Eugene
Sav-On Pharmacy, multiple locations, drop-off and mail-back
Genoa Healthcare, 2145 Centennial Plaza Ste. P1, drop-off
Willamette Valley Cancer Center Pharmacy, 520 Country Club Road, drop-off and mail-back
Safeway Pharmacy, multiple locations, drop-off and mail-back
Rite Aid, multiple locations, drop-off
CVS Pharmacy, multiple locations, drop-off
Hiron’s Drug, 1950 Franklin Boulevard or 185 East 18th Avenue, drop-off
University of Oregon Health Center Pharmacy, 1590 East 13th, mail-back
Broadway Apothecary, 1891 Oak Street, mail-back
Pacific Women’s Center, 10 Coburg Road Suite 100, mail-back
Springfield
Springfield Public Library, 225 5th Street, mail-back
Safeway Pharmacy, 1891 Pioneer Parkway, drop-off and mail-back
Catholic Community Services of Lane County, 1025 G Street, mail-back
Sav-On Pharmacy, multiple locations, drop off and mail-back
CVS Pharmacy, 2750 Gateway Street, drop-off
United Way of Lane County, 3171 Gateway Loop, mail-back
PeaceHealth Medical Pharmacy, 3333 Riverbend Drive, mail-back
Rite Aid, 2130 Marcola Road, drop-off
Cottage Grove
Safeway Pharmacy, 1500 E Main Street, drop-off and mail-back
Cottage Grove Police Department, 400 East Main Street, drop-off
McCoy’s Pharmacy, 1205 North Pacific Highway Suite 3, mail-back
Creswell
Creswell City Hall, 13 South 1st Street, mail-back
Creswell Library, 64 West Oregon Avenue, mail-back
Creswell Health Mart Pharmacy, 175 E Oregon Avenue, mail-back
Emerald Valley Rx, 176 Melton Road, drop-off
Junction City
Safeway Pharmacy, 1755 Ivy Street, drop-off and mail-back
Caris Pharmacy, 94614 OR-99 W, mail-back
Junction City Police Department, 672 Greenwood Street, drop-off
Florence
Florence Pharmacy, 2935 Hwy 101, drop-off and mail-back
Safeway Pharmacy, 700 Highway 101, drop-off and mail-back
Peace Harbor Hospital, 400 9th Street, mail-back
Darlings Marina & RV Resort, 4879 Darlings Loop, mail-back
Coburg
Coburg Rural Fire District, 91232 North Coburg Road, mail-back
TA Eugene Petro Market, 32910 East Pearl Street, mail-back
Veneta
Veneta City Hall, 88184 8th Street, mail-back
Caris Pharmacy, 25013 Hwy 126, mail-back
Oakridge
Oakridge Police Department, 76435 Ash Street, drop-off
Inbound LLC, 48224 E 1st Street, mail-back
Oakridge School District 76, 76499 Rose Street, mail-back
Postal Pharmacy, 47809 Oregon 58, drop-off
Sydney Wyatt covers healthcare inequities in the Mid-Willamette Valley. Send comments, questions, and tips to her at SWyatt@gannett.com or (503) 399-6613
Wyatt's coverage of healthcare inequities is funded in part by the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, which seeks to strengthen the cultural, social, educational, and spiritual base of the Pacific Northwest through capacity-building investments in the nonprofit sector.
This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Where to dispose unused prescription medication in Lane County