National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day: Saturday, October 25, 2025
Every day, more than 130 Americans die after overdosing on opioids. As the prescription opioid epidemic continues to worsen, Northwestern Medicine is working alongside the Drug Enforcement Administration to host collection sites for National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. The event aims to provide a safe, convenient and responsible way to dispose of unused opioids and other prescription medications, while also educating the general public about the potential for misuse of medications.
Unused medications thrown in the trash can be retrieved and abused, or illegally sold. If they are flushed, they can contaminate the water supply. Proper disposal of unused drugs saves lives and protects the environment.
Naloxone training and distribution is provided at all collection sites.
Please note, sharps and liquids will not be accepted, and Take Back Day is for community members, not for commercial organizations.
Northwestern Medicine will host ten sites for community members to visit from 10 am – 2 pm on Saturday, October 25:
- Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital
North Entrance Roundabout
25 North Winfield Road
Winfield, Illinois - Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital
Hospital Main Entrance
10400 Haligus Road
Huntley, Illinois - Northwestern Medicine Immediate Care St. Charles
(on the east side of the parking lot by Kirk Road)
2900 Foxfield Road
St. Charles, Illinois - Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital
2731 Sycamore Road
DeKalb, Illinois - Northwestern Medicine Catherine Gratz Griffin Lake Forest Hospital
800 North Westmoreland
Lake Forest, Illinois - Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital
Cancer Center Entrance
4305 West Medical Center Drive
McHenry, Illinois - Northwestern Medicine Old Irving Park Advanced Outpatient Center
Patient Drop Off Area (Inside attached parking garage)
4445 West Irving Park Road
Chicago, Illinois - Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital
12251 South 80th Avenue
(Use main entrance driveway, take first right, west side of the hospital)
Palos Heights, Illinois - Northwestern Medicine Valley West Hospital
1302 North Main Street
Sandwich, Illinois - Northwestern Memorial Hospital Lavin Family Pavilion
259 East Erie Street
Chicago, Illinois
To find other collection sites near you, visit https://takebackday.dea.gov/.
For more information on prescription drug misuse and proper disposal, visit:
Participating organizations:
Chrome
Edge
Safari
Firefox