Parkland to host National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on April 25
Event provides opportunity for proper disposal of medications
Expired, unused and unwanted medications kept in our homes can fall into the wrong hands or be taken improperly, creating preventable risks for families and communities. To help reduce accidental poisonings, misuse and improper disposal, the Dallas County Hospital District Police Department and Parkland Health will participate in the next National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
Held nationwide each spring and fall, Take Back Day offers a safe, convenient and responsible way to dispose of unused or expired prescription medications and many over-the-counter products.
Parkland will host the take-back from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, April 25, at the Simmons Ambulatory Surgery Center, 4900 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas 75235. The event is free and open to the public. Community members can hand medications directly to a law enforcement officer — no questions asked.
During the October 2025 Take Back Day, the community once again emptied medicine cabinets to help remove old, unwanted and expired medications from circulation. Nationwide, the Drug Enforcement Administration and its law enforcement partners collected 571,054 pounds (286 tons) of unneeded medications at 4,317 collection sites, with 4,263 law-enforcement agencies participating.
Since the program began in the fall of 2010, Take Back Day events have collected more than 20,391,815 pounds (10,196 tons) of old, unwanted and expired medications nationwide.
In October 2025, the statewide collection total in Texas was 42,271 pounds, with 231 collection sites and 215 participating law-enforcement partners.
Prescription medications can be lifesaving when used as directed. But unused medicines stored at home can contribute to unintentional poisonings (especially among young children) and can also be diverted for misuse. CDC notes that unintentional medication overdoses are a leading cause of emergency department visits among young children, underscoring the importance of safe storage and disposal.
Survey data also shows how often diversion occurs within social networks: in 2024, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reported that 42.3% of people who misused prescription pain relievers obtained them from a friend or relative in some way.
“Take Back Day gives our community a simple and secure way to dispose of medications that no longer belong in the home,” said Steve Sedlak, Captain, Dallas County Hospital District Police Department. “When medications sit unused, the risks add up — from accidental poisonings to misuse. This event helps prevent harm before it starts.”
Medicines found at home are still one of the most common reasons people call about possible poisonings, say experts at the North Texas Poison Center at Parkland. They encourage families to take a few minutes to check what medications they have on hand and safely get rid of anything that is expired or no longer needed.
“Drug Take Back Day is an opportunity to talk about medication safety with your family,” said Lizbeth Petty, Public Health Education Manager with the North Texas Poison Center. “Teach children that medicine should only be given by a trusted adult. For adults and caregivers, it’s also a reminder to take medications as prescribed and to promptly dispose of anything expired or no longer needed.”
DEA partners collect tablets, capsules, patches and other solid forms of prescription medications. Syringes, sharps and illicit substances are not collected. Liquid products should remain tightly sealed in their original containers to prevent leakage.
If you cannot attend Take Back Day, year-round disposal options are widely available. DEA reports tens of thousands of authorized collectors and permanent drop-box locations nationwide. FDA also recommends take-back as the best disposal option, with additional at-home guidance when take-back is not readily available.
For poison-related questions, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (free, confidential, 24/7) or visit www.poison.org. For more information about Parkland services and locations, visit www.parklandhealth.org.
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