Safe Storage & Disposal

SAFE DISPOSAL SAVES LIVES

April is Prescription Drug Take Back Month in Marin!  Time to clean out the medicine cabinet and safely dispose of your expired prescription and
over-the-counter (OTC) medications.

For safety sake, it is recommended to clean out the medicine cabinet twice annually. It’s time again to gather your unused, unwanted, or unneeded prescription and OTC medications and visit one of the 24 year-round drop-off locations throughout Marin, including CVS pharmacies, Kaiser locations, police departments and more. Safe disposal provides an opportunity for residents to help prevent drug addiction and overdose deaths in their community.

About one-quarter of Marin residents need help for substance abuse, alcohol abuse or mental health problems. According to the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 9.9 million Americans misused controlled prescription drugs. The study showed that a majority of abused opioids were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet. Medicines that languish and left in unlocked locations are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse.

Organized drug take-back efforts and the safe disposal of medications have been fruitful. In 2019, 14,673 pounds of unneeded drugs were collected in Marin, up from 11,128 in 2018 and 8,300 in 2017. Every year since 2015, Marin has seen more drugs being returned and properly discarded. Statewide, 56,410 pounds were dropped off at 336 collection sites in 2019. Since September 2010, almost 13 million pounds of drugs have been disposed of nationally through the take-back programs.

Drug take-back locations are open during the facility’s year-round regular hours of operation. The service is provided free and anonymously. Medications are accepted in any dosage form in their original container or a sealed bag. Note that drop-off locations cannot accept herbal remedies, vitamins, supplements, cosmetics, other personal care products, medical devices, batteries, mercury-containing thermometers, sharps, and illicit drugs.  If you’re homebound or disabled, you can also request a Mail-Back envelope free of charge, so you can take back without having to leave your home.

Download Safe Disposal Saves Lives Brochure

Belvedere

Belvedere Police Department
450 San Rafael Avenue

Kentfield

College of Marin Police Department
700 College Avenue

Larkspur

CVS Pharmacy
330 Bon Air Center

Central Marin Police Authority
– Larkspur Station
250 Doherty Drive

Mill Valley

CVS Pharmacy
759 East Blithedale Avenue

Mill Valley Police Department
1 Hamilton Drive

Novato

Novato Police Department
909 Machin Avenue

CVS Pharmacy
2035 Novato Blvd

CVS Pharmacy
1707 Grant Avenue

Kaiser Permanente
97 San Marin Drive

Ross

Ross Police Department
33 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard

San Anselmo

CVS Pharmacy
880 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard

Central Marin Police Authority – San Anselmo Station
525 San Anselmo Avenue

San Rafael

CVS Pharmacy
909 Grand Avenue

CVS Pharmacy
442 Las Gallinas Avenue

Kaiser Downtown Offices
1033 Third Street

Kaiser Medical Center
99 Montecillo Road

San Rafael Police Department
1400 Fifth Avenue

County of Marin Probation Department
3501 Civic Center Drive
Room 265

Marin County Sheriff’s Office
20 North San Pedro Rd
Suite 200

Marin Medical Pharmacy
750 Las Gallinas Avenue
Suite 104