Participate in National Prescription Take Back Day
Let’s Protect Our Community One Prescription at a Time
Imagine for a moment, a child mistaking unwanted medication for candy and overdosing on those drugs.
In fiscal year 2024, the Kentucky’s Child Fatality and Near Fatality External Review Panel reviewed 72 child fatalities and 176 near fatalities, with many involving physical abuse and unsafe substance exposure. Kentucky Youth Advocates and the “Face It” Medication Safety in the Home campaign notes that every nine minutes a young child in Kentucky goes to the emergency room for an accidental medicine-related poisoning.
Now, think about someone you love with substance use disorder who finds unwanted medication and relapses months after starting their recovery journey.
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At Seven Counties Services, we believe healthier communities begin with simple actions that can have a lasting impact. One of those actions is safely disposing of unused, unwanted, or expired medications. That’s why we encourage everyone across Louisville and surrounding counties to participate in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., Saturday, October 24, 2026. The nationwide initiative, led by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) provides a safe, convenient, and anonymous way to dispose of medications and help prevent misuse.
Why Does Take Back Day Matter?
Unused prescription medications stored in homes can create risks for accidental poisoning, misuse, and diversion. Many people who misuse prescription medications obtain them from family members or friends, often from medications that were never properly disposed of. Removing these medications from our homes is a simple but powerful prevention strategy.
Proper disposal also protects the environment by keeping medications out of landfills and waterways. Through Take Back Day, medications are collected and disposed of safely and responsibly.
Where Can I Find Local Take Back Day Events?
Residents throughout our region will have access to local Take Back Day collection sites coordinated through the DEA and community partners. The DEA updates its online locator regularly as event sites are confirmed. As October 24 approaches:
• Visit the DEA Take Back Day Take Back Day Collection Site Locator.
• Search by ZIP code, city, or county.
• Confirm hours and accepted items before arriving.
• Bring unwanted or expired prescription medications for anonymous disposal.
Kentucky continues to demonstrate strong participation in medication disposal initiatives, with more than 200 permanent prescription drug disposal locations available across 87 counties and hundreds of thousands of pounds of medications removed from circulation since 2011.
According to the DEA, in April 2026 alone, Kentuckians turned in nearly 15,000 pounds of unused medications as part of the bi-annual National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, contributing to a broader regional effort that collected more than 42,000 pounds across Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia.
How Does This Community Effort Prevent Substance Misuse?
At Seven Counties Services, we see the impact substance use disorders can have on people, families, and communities. National Prescription Drug Take Back Day gives everyone an opportunity to contribute to prevention efforts that build healthier communities.
Whether you’re cleaning out a medicine cabinet, helping an aging parent organize medications, or simply disposing of expired prescriptions, your participation can help reduce the availability of medications that could be misused. What may seem like a logical housekeeping task can save lives.
Building Healthier Futures Together
Every prescription safely disposed of is one less opportunity for misuse, accidental ingestion, or environmental harm. This October, Seven Counties Services encourages all community members to take a few minutes to review their medications and participate in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.
We believe every person deserves the chance to live a healthy, fulfilling life. Together, we can prevent substance use, support those on the path to recovery, and help families and communities heal, grow, and thrive. Learn more about how we help people start their recovery journeys: https://sevencounties.org/addiction-recovery/.
Call us at 502-589-1100 or schedule an appointment: https://sevencounties.org/request-services/.
If you or someone you love is in immediate crisis, call, text, or chat 988, the 24/7 Crisis Lifeline.
Reviewed by Jarod Woods, director of marketing & communications, on 10/5/2026.
