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Q: I missed National Drug Take Back Day. How can I safely get rid of medications I am no longer taking?

A: One of the best ways to dispose of unneeded and unused over-the-counter and prescription medications is to drop them off at a location that will take back unused medications.

The Drug Enforcement Administration sponsors National Drug Take Back Day events, typically in October and April. For more information, you can visit the DEA website at takebackday.dea.gov.

But what if you missed a takeback event — or don’t feel comfortable visiting a drop-off location? You still have options.

Check with a pharmacy

One is to call your local pharmacy to see if they accept unused medications or if they know of any pharmacies that do. Often a pharmacy near you will take back medications all year and then safely dispose of them.

Some pharmacies charge a fee to take back unused medications, so you may want to call first.

The second option is to do it yourself. There are two simple methods to safely dispose of medications at home.

The first is to remove the medication from its original container, crush the medication, add a small amount of water, and then mix it with coffee grounds or kitty litter before disposing in the trash.

This makes the medication unappealing to children and pets. It also makes it hard to find or use if someone is searching trash to find medications (such as opioid pain killers).

For liquid medications, mix them with kitty litter or flour to absorb the liquid. To prevent the medication from leaking out, place the mixture in a sealable plastic bag or an empty can. Make sure to remove or redact any personal information on the bottle to protect your identity.

Flushing not recommended

The second way to dispose of medications at home is to flush them down the toilet.

But be very careful: Flushing is only recommended if a takeback method is not easily available and when the medication is extremely harmful to others in your household (such as opioids).

Flushing is not recommended for many common medications because drugs can eventually wind up in lakes, rivers and streams, which could have negative effects on living things in the environment.

To make sure that the medications you have are appropriate to flush down the  toilet, refer to the Food and Drug  Administration “flush list.” You can access the list at: fda.gov/media/109643/download.

Ultimately, the best way to get rid of unneeded over-the-counter and prescription medications is to take advantage of community drug takeback programs or the DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Days.

But if you cannot participate in official drug takeback events, you should still do your part and safely dispose of unused or outdated medications.

Proper drug disposal is important to decrease the risk of unintended medication exposure to people or animals, as well as to decrease negative effects on the environment.

Adwoa Nyame is a fourth-year pharmacy student at VCU School of Pharmacy. She received her undergraduate degree in chemistry at Salisbury University. She plans to pursue a career as a clinical pharmacist with areas of interest in oncology, internal medicine and critical care.