take back box

The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics initiated the Safe Trips For Scripts Program in 2011. This new program was aimed at providing citizens with a safe and secure method to destroy unwanted, unused, and expired medication.  In 2022 the program was re-branded to be more identifiable with its purpose and was named the Rx Take Back Program.  Currently, OBN maintains 200 permanent drug take-back boxes that are strategically located in law enforcement agencies across the state. 

Thanks to the partnerships with our local law enforcement agencies these take-back boxes and community take back events have successfully removed nearly 300,000 pounds of unwanted, unused, and expired medication from landfills, waterways, and the environment.  Through a partnership with Covanta Energy this discarded medication is incinerated, generating steam for energy, all while emitting minimal gases into the environment. These services also provide a valuable tool in the prevention of drug diversion from medicine cabinets and homes of our citizens by reducing the potential for theft or abuse of these medications.

To find a take-back box near you, please use the search tool found on our homepage here.

The take back boxes cannot be used to dispose of needles, syringes, inhalers, liquids, illicit drugs, or medical marijuana. For more information on the disposal of these items, please click on the links below.

     Needle take back events 

     Ways to safely dispose of needles 

     Ways to safely dispose of inhalers

     Drug Disposal: the "no flush" list

     Medical Marijuana Waste Disposal

The next National Rx Take Back Day is scheduled for October 2024. Please check back here for updates on event times, dates, and locations. 

For more information about the program, to request a drug take back event, or to request a drug disposal box at your location please contact Beau Ratke, Chief Agent, at (800) 722-6420 or by email at bratke@obn.ok.gov.

LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNER AGENCIES: Please contact (800) 522-8031 and press "0" if you need you need an agent to empty or service your take back box.