Education

Overview

Understanding how to use, store, and dispose of opioids safely can help prevent addiction, overdose, and harm to your community. Whether prescribed by a doctor or encountered in other ways, opioids—including pain medications, heroin, and synthetic drugs like fentanyl—can be dangerous if not handled properly.

We provide easy-to-understand resources to help you learn about the risks of opioid use, how to store medications safely, and how to dispose of unused or expired prescriptions. Safe storage keeps opioids out of reach of children and others who shouldn’t have them. Proper disposal—such as using medication take-back programs—reduces the chance of misuse and protects the environment.

By staying informed and taking simple steps, you can make a big difference in keeping yourself, your family, and your community safe. Explore the information below to learn more.

Safe storage

Never share your prescribed medication​s. Even over-the-counter medications can be dangerous and should be securely stored away from children, pets, and others. Medications such as opioids, stimulants, and benzodiazepines are particularly high risk because they have known harmful effects. They can be misused or accidentally taken by others. Keeping opioids in the home is associated with an increased risk that household members will experience an overdose. Be sure to get rid of your medications as soon as you’re done using them.

Need medication disposal bags?

Fill out the medication disposal bag request form and send it to ProjectHOPE@alaska.gov

How to safely dispose of unused medications

The best way to get rid of unused medications is to take them to your local pharmacy. Most pharmacies have special drop-off containers for old or unused medicines, and you can do this for free. If your pharmacy doesn't have this, you can look up places near you online that accept medications.

If you can't find a place to take them, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has instructions for getting rid of medications safely. Some medications should be flushed down the toilet, while others should be taken out of the bottle and mixed with trash. To prevent people from stealing or misusing pills, don't throw away bottles that still have medicine in them.

For medications that use needles or lancets, like insulin shots or blood tests, these should go into a sharps container. Once the container is about three-quarters full, follow directions for safely disposing of it. If you're unsure, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Resources