Controlled Substances
YES, accepted at law enforcement offices
NO, not accepted at pharmacies
Controlled substances are drugs with a high potential for abuse and addiction. Examples include:
- Narcotic pain killers such as Vicodin®, OxyContin®, Percocet®, codeine, methadone, Fentanyl® patches and morphine
- Stimulant drugs, such as Ritalin® and Adderall®
- Depressants such as Xanax® , Valium® and lorazepam
Under current federal law, controlled substance drugs possessed by a patient can only be returned to law enforcement officials. If you are uncertain if your medicine is a controlled substance, ask your pharmacist.
Find law enforcement locations in Washington that accept all medicines, including controlled substances.
Do not flush down the toilet or sink! If a drop off location is not available to you, use these instructions to dispose of your medicines in the garbage.
Great news! Congress passed legislation in September 2010 that removes the restriction that only law enforcement take-back programs collect controlled substances from residents. When this law goes into effect, creators of medicine take-back programs will have more options for return of unwanted medicines.
