city_hall

Official websites use .boston.gov

A .boston.gov website belongs to an official government organization in the City of Boston.

lock

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS

A lock or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Last updated:

Drug take-back kiosks

Unused or expired medications can pose a risk to children, family members, and the environment. They can also be misused, leading to serious complications, overdose, and even death.

There are MedReturn Drug Collection Kiosks at 11 Boston Police Department Stations. You can dispose of your medications safely, confidentially, and for free.

The kiosks are open to all residents, 24 hours a day, seven days a week — no questions asked. This is a safe, effective, and sustainable way to dispose of prescription substances.

What we collect

At our kiosks, we collect:
  • prescription medications
  • over-the-counter medications
  • pet medications
  • sample medications
  • pills, capsules, inhalers, ointment, and patches
  • vitamins, and
  • liquids in glass or leak-proof containers.
We don’t collect:
  • needles and sharps
  • thermometers
  • bloody or infectious waste, and
  • aerosol cans.

Kiosk locations

Police station Address Phone number
​A1 Downtown 40 New Sudbury St., Boston, MA 02114 617-343-4240
​A7 East Boston 69 Paris St., East Boston, MA 02128​ 617-343-4220
​B2 Roxbury 2400 Washington St., Roxbury, MA 02119 617-343-4270
​B3 Mattapan 1165 Blue Hill Ave., Dorchester, MA 02124 617-343-4700
​C6 South Boston 101 West Broadway, South Boston, MA 02127 617-343-4730
​C11 Dorcheste​r 40 Gibson St., Dorchester, MA 02122 617-343-4330
​D4 Back Bay ​650 Harrison Ave., Boston, MA 02116 617-343-4250
​D14 Brighton 301 Washington St., Brighton, MA 02135 617-343-4260
​E5 West Roxbury 1708 Centre St., West Roxbury, MA 02132 617-343-4560
​E13 Jamaica Plain 3345 Washington St., Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 617-343-5630
​E18 Hyde Park ​1249 Hyde Park Ave., Hyde Park, MA 02136 617-343-5600

Before you dispose of medication

Before you dispose of medication
Remove any ID information

Scratch out all identifying information on the prescription label to make it unreadable. This will help protect your identity and the privacy of your personal health information.

Drug instructions on label

If the drug label or patient information on the medication has specific instructions for disposal, please follow those. Don’t flush prescription drugs down the toilet unless this information tells you to.

Don’t give away your medications

Do not give medications to friends. Doctors prescribe drugs based on a person's specific symptoms and medical history. A drug that works for you could be very dangerous for someone else.

What else can you do?

Safeguard your medicine
  • Keep prescription medicine in a secure place.
  • Count and monitor the number of pills you have.
  • Lock up your medicine.
Educate yourself and others
  • Share information with family, friends, and neighbors.
  • Talk to youth about the risks of underage drinking and abusing prescription drugs. Children who learn about the risks from their parents are up to 50 percent less likely to use than those who don't get that critical message at home.
Get Help
  • If you or someone you know needs help, call 1-855-494-4057. Addiction is a treatable disease. There are many paths to recovery. Let us help you choose yours.
  • Nasal Narcan is the antidote to opioid overdose. To request a nasal Narcan training, call 617-834-1784.
Back to top