Drug Disposal

Why is drug disposal important?

Storing unused drugs is a dangerous practice. It can be tempting to keep your unused medications. Storing them for future use may seem like a smart thing to do, but in reality it creates a high-risk environment for misuse such as:

  • Accidental drug poisoning: Approximately 60,000 young children are brought to the emergency room each year because they got into medicines that were left within reach.
  • Drug misuse or abuse: When storing unused medications, you will probably not notice if someone uses or takes them. Do your part to reduce access to powerful drugs.
  • Taking the wrong or expired medications: If someone misreads, is sick or confused or even just distracted having extra drugs raises the risk of taking the wrong drug.
  • Dangerous drugs getting in the environment or water supply: The FDA lists that certain medications are safe to flush, but some more powerful drugs are recommended to dispose of at drop-off locations.
Two folks holding a prescription and look at a computer
In order to keep you, your family, and your community safe learn to properly dispose of unused drugs.


Local Locations

Rockaway Beach
City Hall

276 US 101
Rockaway Beach, OR 97136
503-374-1752

Monday – Friday, 10 am – 3 pm
By appointment only

Medication drop box

Tillamook County Libraries

Locations and hours vary. Check your branch details here .

Medication mail-back program: 
Free disposal envelopes available with postage include.



Wheeler, OR 97141
 1-844-715-2299

Tillamook County
Sheriff’s Office

5995 Long Prairie Road
Tillamook, OR 97147
 503-842-2561

Monday – Sunday, 8 am – 5 pm

Medication drop box

Tillamook Police Department

207 Madrona Avenue 
Tillamook, OR 97141
 503-842-2522

Monday – Friday, 8 am – 5 pm

Medication drop box

This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $1 million with 100 percent funded by HRSA/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views or, nor an endorsement, by HRSA/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

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