STORRS — The University of Connecticut’s student chapter of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy, in collaboration with the UConn Police Department, will host a drug take-back event today from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The event invites community members to safely dispose of expired, unused or unwanted medications. It will take place in the UConn Police Department lobby at 125 N. Eagleville Road.
UConn Police Sgt. Justin Cheney and canine officer Jazmine will be in attendance. The first 20 participants will also receive free popcorn, according to the Instagram annoucement about the event.
Improper medication disposal can lead to prescription drug misuse, particularly when unused medications become accessible to individuals without valid prescriptions.
According to Megan Prescott, a UConn doctor of pharmacy candidate and president of Student College of Clinal Pharmacy, certain prescription medications pose significant risks when they are no longer needed.
“A lot of medications that are given post-surgery to patients, such as narcotics or benzodiazepines, have high addiction potential,” Prescott said. “It is important that these medications are properly disposed of when the person taking them no longer needs them, to avoid any bad situations down the road.”
Prescription stimulants, including Adderall and Ritalin, are commonly prescribed to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. These medications are classified as Schedule II controlled substances under federal law because of their potential for misuse and dependence.
Distributing prescription stimulants without authorization can result in criminal penalties. Taking these medications without medical supervision can also pose serious health risks, including cardiovascular complications and dependence.
In addition to preventing misuse, proper medication disposal can help reduce pharmaceutical contamination in waterways.
“Some medications are safe to be flushed down the toilet or mixed with coffee grounds and thrown away in the regular trash but others can have negative environmental impacts if disposed of in that way,” Prescott said.
The Food and Drug Administration recommends flushing certain high-risk medications only when a drug take-back option is not readily available. These medications are identified on the FDA’s flush list.
Medications flushed down toilets can introduce pharmaceutical compounds into waterways. Although environmental risks vary depending on the medication and its concentration, some compounds have been linked to adverse effects on aquatic organisms, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Antibiotics entering waterways can also contribute to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, posing additional environmental and public health concerns.
Collected medications are transported for secure destruction, often through high-temperature incineration, rather than disposal in landfills or waterways, according to the EPA.
During a nationwide drug take-back event in October 2025, approximately 286 tons of medications were collected, according to figures from the Drug Enforcement Administration.