Safe Medication Disposal

Our commitment to help

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas is partnering with Walgreens to expand the availability of safe medication disposal kiosks in our service area. This partnership is resulting in an increase in the number of safe medication disposal kiosks in Walgreens drugstores in Kansas from four in three communities to 14 in 12 communities.

Having access to safe medication disposal methods is a key factor in helping curb abuse and misuse of over-the-counter and prescription medications – especially opioids – as well as lowering the opportunity for accidental poisonings.

We encourage Kansans to regularly clean out their medicine cabinets and properly dispose of unwanted, unused or expired prescription and over-the-counter medications.

About the kiosks

  • Kansans can safely and conveniently dispose of unwanted, unused or expired over-the-counter and prescription medications, including controlled substances, at no cost.
  • Medications can be brought to Walgreens with a safe medication disposal kiosk, then easily deposited in the kiosk. Walgreens works with an outside vendor to empty the kiosks and properly destroy the medications.
  • They are located near the pharmacy counter and are available during regular pharmacy hours.

Medications that are safe to dispose of include: prescriptions, prescription and over-the-counter ointments, creams, liquids and lotions, pet medications, prescription patches, and over-the-counter medications and vitamins.

Items you should not dispose of include: needles, inhalers, aerosol cans, hydrogen peroxide, thermometers and illicit drugs.

Locations

Did you know?

  • The overuse and abuse of opioids is resulting in a growing number of deaths from overdose; pain and suffering for Kansas families; loss of productivity for Kansas workers; and higher health care costs due to a rise in emergency room visits, prescriptions and various treatments.
  • The potential for overuse and abuse is not limited to the person prescribed the opioid. Many teenagers and young adults are introduced to opioids by accessing the pills prescribed for a family member or friend, which is why it is important to properly dispose of unused, unwanted or expired opioid prescriptions.

This expansion is part of an effort announced in late 2017 by AmericsourceBergen, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Pfizer, Prime Therapeutics and Walgreens to combat the national opioid abuse crisis by increasing the availability of safe medication disposal kiosks to an additional 900 Walgreens drugstores around the country. When the expansion is complete, kiosks will be available in approximately 1,500 Walgreens stores nationwide.