The 2025 Enrique Camarena Award recognizes two inspiring leaders in prevention and recovery. This year, we are proud to honor Dr. Matthew Lee as the Award Recipient and Donna Meyers as the Award Honoree for their meaningful impact in the communities they serve.

On Saturday, April 25, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., communities across the country will take part in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, a DEA-led initiative that gives families a safe, convenient, and responsible way to dispose of unused or expired medications. The goal is simple: help reduce access to medications that are no longer needed and keep them from staying in the home unnecessarily.

For many families, old prescriptions end up sitting in a medicine cabinet, kitchen drawer, or bathroom shelf long after they are needed. It may not seem urgent, but keeping unused medications at home can create unnecessary risk. National Take Back Day is a practical reminder that prevention can start with something as simple as cleaning out the medicine cabinet.

Why safe medication disposal matters

Unused or expired medications should not be treated like ordinary household clutter. The FDA says the best way to dispose of most unused or expired medicines — including both prescription and over-the-counter medications — is through a drug take-back option, such as a collection site or mail-back program.

That matters because medications kept at home can be misused, taken accidentally, or accessed by children, teens, or others for whom they were never intended. SAMHSA also advises families to keep medications in a safe place where children or pets cannot reach them, reinforcing how important secure handling and disposal are in the home.

What families can do before April 25

Take Back Day is a good opportunity to pause and do a quick check of the medications in your home.

Look for:

• Expired prescriptions

• Unused pain medication after surgery or an injury

• Old antibiotics or medications that were never finished as directed

• Unused over-the-counter medications

• Medicines that no one in the household currently needs

  If you find medications that are expired, unwanted, or no longer needed, set them aside for disposal at an approved collection site. The DEA provides a search tool to help families locate a Take Back Day site by ZIP code or city and state.

  What to know before dropping medications off

  The FDA recommends using a take-back option whenever possible. It also advises removing or scratching out personal information on prescription labels before disposal to help protect your privacy. Medications collected at take-back locations are destroyed.

  This is one reason Take Back Day can be such a helpful option for families. It gives people a clear, organized, and trusted way to dispose of medications without keeping them in the home longer than necessary.

  What if you miss Take Back Day?

  If your family cannot participate on April 25, there are still good options. The FDA notes that many pharmacies and other authorized locations offer year-round drop boxes, kiosks, or mail-back programs. DEA resources also point to thousands of year-round collection sites nationwide.

  If a take-back option is not readily available, the FDA provides additional guidance for disposing of certain medicines at home, including when trash disposal or flushing may be appropriate for specific products. Families should always follow current FDA disposal guidance rather than guessing.

  A simple prevention step with real impact

  Prevention does not always begin with a big conversation. Sometimes it begins with a small action that makes the home safer. Cleaning out unused medications is one of those actions. It supports healthier habits, reduces unnecessary access, and reminds families that prevention can be part of everyday life. SAMHSA notes that prevention activities help educate and support individuals and communities in preventing drug misuse before it starts.

  This April, National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is a meaningful chance for families to take one practical step toward a safer home. Check your medicine cabinet. Gather what is no longer needed. Find a local collection site. Then encourage others to do the same.

  Call to Action

  National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is Saturday, April 25, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visit the DEA’s official collection site locator to find a drop-off location near you and safely dispose of unused or expired medications.