Parkland to host National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Oct. 24
Event provides opportunity for proper disposal of medications
Expired, unused and unwanted medications left in the home 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, Oct. 24.
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 event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 24, 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 April 2026 Take Back Day, communities nationwide emptied medicine cabinets to help remove old, unwanted and expired medications from circulation. The Drug Enforcement Administration and its law enforcement partners collected 642,410 pounds, or 321 tons, of unneeded medications at 4,417 collection sites, with 4,306 law enforcement agencies participating.
Since the program began in 2010, Take Back Day events have collected more than 21 million pounds, or 10,500 tons, of unwanted medications nationwide.
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. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 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 show how unused medications can move through social networks. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 42.3% of people who misused prescription pain relievers obtained the pain relievers they most recently misused from a friend or relative.
“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, safe disposal options are available year-round. More than 16,500 pharmacies, hospitals and businesses nationwide offer medication disposal, along with many police departments that provide permanent drop boxes. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends take-back as the best way to dispose of most unused or expired medications, with additional at-home disposal guidance when a take-back option 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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