National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

Patients and Community Members Join Johns Hopkins in the Fight Against Drug Misuse!

Johns Hopkins Medicine participates in the Drug Enforcement Administration's National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. Drive up and drop off unused or expired prescription medications and our staff will dispose of them for you safely. See participating locations below.

Upcoming Event

National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day occurs twice a year in the spring and fall. The next event is scheduled for Saturday, October 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

This event provides a safe, convenient, and responsible way to dispose of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for misuse of medications.

This event is open to employees, patients and the public. The participating sites include:

Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital
Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center
Johns Hopkins Health Care & Surgery Center — Green Spring Station
The Johns Hopkins Hospital
Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center
Sibley Memorial Hospital
Suburban Hospital

Event Quick Facts

Over 1,000 Pounds of Medication

Collected in the April 2023 Take-Back Day Event.

491 Community Members

Brought their unused or expired medication in the April 2023 event.

8,657 Total Pounds

Total medication collected and disposed of through Johns Hopkins Take-Back Day events and pharmacy take-back bins.

Seven Participating Locations

Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center

Main Entrance
5755 Cedar Ln
Columbia, MD 21044
Google Map | Campus Map

Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital

Outpatient Care Clinic
601 5th St South
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Google Map

Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center

Blue Awning Entrance
4940 Eastern Ave
Baltimore, MD 21224
Google Map | Campus Map

Johns Hopkins Health Care & Surgery Center — Green Spring Station, Lutherville

Between Pavilion I & Pavilion II
10755 Falls Road
Lutherville, MD 21093
Google Map | Campus Map

Sibley Memorial Hospital

5255 Loughboro Rd, NW
Washington, DC 20016
Google Map | Campus Map

Suburban Hospital

8600 Old Georgetown Rd
Bethesda, MD 20814
Google Map | Campus Map

Front entrance of Suburban's north building

The Johns Hopkins Hospital

Outpatient Circle Drive
601 N. Caroline Street
Baltimore, MD 21287
Google Map | Campus Maps

Another Way to Dispose of Medication

You don’t have to wait for a Drug Take-Back event to dispose of unwanted medication. Johns Hopkins Pharmacies offer patients and the community a safe and convenient way to dispose of unused and expired medications throughout the year.

Use the secure drug disposal bins located in several Johns Hopkins pharmacies to dispose of your medications safely. Disposal bins are located in the following pharmacies:
These bins are available during the pharmacy’s operational hours.
Here is a complete list of acceptable items for disposal in the bins:
- Pills, tablets, capsules - Loose pills must be placed in a zip-top bag before placing in the bin. Bags can be obtained from the pharmacy.
- Ointments
- Creams
- Lotions
- Powders
- Liquid medicines – no more than 4 oz. (120ml) - Liquid medications must be in their original containers, wrapped in a paper towel and sealed in a plastic bag before placing in the container.
Contact your local community’s household hazardous waste department for information on proper disposal of medications not on the list.

Misuse statistics

289%

Increase

The increase in the number of opioid deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic.
69.7%

Males

Of the 422,605 overdose deaths between 2011 and 2021, 69.7% were males.
1 in 22

Deaths

By 2021, 1 of every 22 deaths in the US was attributable to unintentional opioid deaths.