Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet Before Cold and Flu Season
Drug Take Back Day is Saturday, October 25
10/23/2025
Natalie Wilkin, Aspirus Pharmacy Resident
As cold and flu season approaches, Aspirus Health is reminding community members to check their medicine cabinets and safely dispose of any expired or unused medications. The upcoming National Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, October 25 provides a convenient opportunity to do so.
“Cleaning out your medicine cabinet before cold and flu season helps in a couple of important ways,” said Natalie Wilkin, Pharmacy Resident at Aspirus Health. “It removes expired or duplicate medications and gives you the opportunity to restock before you need them. It also reduces the risk of accidental ingestion, especially if you have children or pets at home.”
Expired medications may lose potency and fail to treat symptoms effectively. Keeping them around can also increase the risk of accidental use or misuse.
“The preferred disposal method is to bring your medications to a trusted drop-off site,” Wilkin said. “Drug Take Back Day is a great opportunity to do that, but there are also permanent collection boxes available year-round at many pharmacies and health care facilities, including several Aspirus locations.”
Safe medication disposal also benefits the environment by preventing pharmaceuticals from entering landfills and waterways.
“Clearing out medications you no longer need helps protect your family, your community, and the environment,” Wilkin added.
To find a Drug Take Back Day location near you, visit the United States Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) website at www.dea.gov/takebackday.
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