On Saturday, April 25, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, the Rochester Police Department, in partnership with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), will offer the public an opportunity to help prevent pill abuse and theft by safely disposing of potentially dangerous, expired, unused, and unwanted prescription medications.

Residents may bring their medications for disposal to the Rochester Police Department, located at 23 Wakefield Street in Rochester, NH. Please note that collection sites cannot accept liquids, needles, or sharps. only pills or patches. This service is free and anonymous, with no questions asked.

The DEA will accept vape pens and other e-cigarette devices from individual consumers only if the batteries have been removed. Neither the Rochester Police Department nor the DEA is able to remove batteries from these devices. If the battery cannot be removed, residents are encouraged to contact large electronic retail stores, which may accept these items for proper disposal. Consumers may also contact their local Hazardous Materials Management Facility for guidance on safe disposal options.

This initiative addresses a critical public health and safety concern. Medications kept in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Prescription drug abuse rates in the United States remain alarmingly high, as does the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses associated with these medications. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health consistently finds that most misused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, often taken from home medicine cabinets.

In addition, commonly used disposal methods, such as flushing medications down the toilet or throwing them in the trash, can pose environmental and public health risks and are not recommended.

For more information about prescription drug disposal, please visit www.DEATakeBack.com.