Medication Disposal

Our next Medication and Sharps Collection will be held on Saturday April 27, 2024 from 10 a.m – 2 p.m.

Free! Fast! Convenient! Open to the public. No need to get out of your vehicle, although walk-ups are welcome.

At our events, we accept prescription and over-the-counter medication, vitamins, veterinary medication, vape devices (with batteries removed), sharps (needles, syringes, EpiPens), and more. When delivering, SHARPS must be separate from other medication/items and in designated sharps containers so no one can be pricked. Pills may remain in bottles. No need to remove labels.

Safely dispose of:
• Prescription Medication
• Over-the-counter meds
• Sharps (Syringes, Needles, Epi-Pens, etc.)
• Vitamins
• Vape Devices
• Inhalers
• Pet Medication
…and more!

Volunteers Needed

We always need student, adult, and medically-trained (pharmacists, EMTs, nurses, doctors, etc.) volunteers! We have jobs for all ages: young or young-at-heart, standing or seated (please feel free to bring a chair), introverted or extroverted! Plug into our great community with your family/friends, or join us solo and make new friends! Don’t forget: student volunteers are eligible to receive Community Service Hours with mandatory additional forms submitted prior to event. We encourage adults to accompany students.

Medically-Trained Adults, Other Adults, & Family Volunteer Link

Youth Volunteer Link

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Thank you for attending our medication and sharps collection on Saturday, October 28, 2023. Our volunteers collected 1,223.5 lbs. of medication (43 bins) in 4 hours. In addition, we collected 24 bins of sharps not included in the weight. The next drive-thru medication and sharps collection will be held in the spring on the National Drug Take Back Day. Enjoy our event slideshow!

Thank you to the Howard County Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for guarding and transporting all medications to keep our community safe. Thank you to all our volunteers, partners, and funders.

Get a feel for what HC DrugFree’s Medication & Sharps Collection event was like on October 28, 2023. We love the sense of community as we work together to keep Howard County safer.
HC DrugFree’s many friends, volunteers, and supporters, ready to get to work on National Drug Take Back Day – October 28, 2023
A happy team at the end of National Drug Take Back Day – October 28, 2023


For all HC DrugFree events, check this website updates. However, the easiest way to receive all our updates with collection dates, instructions, COVID guidance, etc., is to sign up for our free electronic newsletter.

At HC DrugFree’s drive-thru collections, we take all prescription & over-the-counter medication, sharps (needles, syringes & EpiPens) & vapes. Also, Howard County has 4 medication disposal boxes FOR PILLS ONLY at police sites: 

  • Northern Police District Station, 3410 Courthouse Drive, Ellicott City, 21043
  • Southern District Station, 11226 Scaggsville Road, Laurel, 20723
  • Gary Arthur Community Center, 2400 Route 97, Cooksville, 21723 (Call the Center to confirm if accepting medication.)
  • Community Outreach Building, 10741 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, 21044. (During COVID, may not accept medication.)

If you have sharps (needles, syringes and EpiPens), contact HC DrugFree’s office. Do NOT put them in the boxes. Thank you for keeping us all safe



Previous Collection Results Here