Where you can safely dispose unused prescription medication in Lane County

Sydney Wyatt, Salem Statesman Journal
·4 min read

The Oregon Health Authority encourages anyone with unused or expired prescription medications to seek safe disposal options, such as returning them to permanent collection sites, at Drug Take Back Day events, or to authorized pharmacies or hospitals.

Safe disposal of unused drugs regardless of type is important to prevent others from using them intentionally or unintentionally.

Improperly disposed medications also can pose significant risks to water quality because they can get into water systems. You should never flush unused medications down the toilet or drain.

Drug collection sites do not accept herbal remedies, vitamins, supplements, medical devices, batteries, mercury-containing thermometers, sharps or illicit drugs.

These are the options for safe medication disposal prescription medications in Lane County:

DEA National Drug Take Back Day held twice a year

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) holds a National Prescription Drug Take Back Day in April and October.

During the 25th Drug Take Back Day in October, 2,995 pounds of unused medications were collected at 17 sites across Oregon, according to the DEA.

The first national event in 2024 will be held April 27. Pharmacy and police department staff will be on-site to assist in safe disposal of unused prescription medications at the following locations

  • The Eugene VA Health Care Center at 3355 Chad Drive from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the circular driveway of the property.

  • Lane Community College's Department of Public Safety at 4000 E. 30th Ave., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the west side of building 19 on the main campus.

Year-round drug collection sites in Lane County

These are year-round collection sites in Lane County. Some allow drop-off of unused medication. Others offer free mail-back services.

Visit medtakebackoregon.org and enter your ZIP code for a full list of prescription drug collection sites, their location and hours. For more information or to order mail-back supples, call (844) 482-5322.

This is a partial list of collection sites in Lane County:

Eugene

  • Sav-On Pharmacy, multiple locations, drop-off and mail-back

  • Genoa Healthcare, 2145 Centennial Plaza Ste. P1, drop-off

  • Willamette Valley Cancer Center Pharmacy, 520 Country Club Road, drop-off and mail-back

  • Safeway Pharmacy, multiple locations, drop-off and mail-back

  • Rite Aid, multiple locations, drop-off

  • CVS Pharmacy, multiple locations, drop-off

  • Hiron’s Drug, 1950 Franklin Boulevard or 185 East 18th Avenue, drop-off

  • University of Oregon Health Center Pharmacy, 1590 East 13th, mail-back

  • Broadway Apothecary, 1891 Oak Street, mail-back

  • Pacific Women’s Center, 10 Coburg Road Suite 100, mail-back

Springfield

  • Springfield Public Library, 225 5th Street, mail-back

  • Safeway Pharmacy, 1891 Pioneer Parkway, drop-off and mail-back

  • Catholic Community Services of Lane County, 1025 G Street, mail-back

  • Sav-On Pharmacy, multiple locations, drop off and mail-back

  • CVS Pharmacy, 2750 Gateway Street, drop-off

  • United Way of Lane County, 3171 Gateway Loop, mail-back

  • PeaceHealth Medical Pharmacy, 3333 Riverbend Drive, mail-back

  • Rite Aid, 2130 Marcola Road, drop-off

Cottage Grove

  • Safeway Pharmacy, 1500 E Main Street, drop-off and mail-back

  • Cottage Grove Police Department, 400 East Main Street, drop-off

  • McCoy’s Pharmacy, 1205 North Pacific Highway Suite 3, mail-back

Creswell

  • Creswell City Hall, 13 South 1st Street, mail-back

  • Creswell Library, 64 West Oregon Avenue, mail-back

  • Creswell Health Mart Pharmacy, 175 E Oregon Avenue, mail-back

  • Emerald Valley Rx, 176 Melton Road, drop-off

Junction City

  • Safeway Pharmacy, 1755 Ivy Street, drop-off and mail-back

  • Caris Pharmacy, 94614 OR-99 W, mail-back

  • Junction City Police Department, 672 Greenwood Street, drop-off

Florence

  • Florence Pharmacy, 2935 Hwy 101, drop-off and mail-back

  • Safeway Pharmacy, 700 Highway 101, drop-off and mail-back

  • Peace Harbor Hospital, 400 9th Street, mail-back

  • Darlings Marina & RV Resort, 4879 Darlings Loop, mail-back

Coburg

  • Coburg Rural Fire District, 91232 North Coburg Road, mail-back

  • TA Eugene Petro Market, 32910 East Pearl Street, mail-back

Veneta

  • Veneta City Hall, 88184 8th Street, mail-back

  • Caris Pharmacy, 25013 Hwy 126, mail-back

Oakridge

  • Oakridge Police Department, 76435 Ash Street, drop-off

  • Inbound LLC, 48224 E 1st Street, mail-back

  • Oakridge School District 76, 76499 Rose Street, mail-back

  • Postal Pharmacy, 47809 Oregon 58, drop-off

Sydney Wyatt covers healthcare inequities in the Mid-Willamette Valley. Send comments, questions, and tips to her at SWyatt@gannett.com or (503) 399-6613

Wyatt's coverage of healthcare inequities is funded in part by the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, which seeks to strengthen the cultural, social, educational, and spiritual base of the Pacific Northwest through capacity-building investments in the nonprofit sector.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Where to dispose unused prescription medication in Lane County