Public can receive assistance disposing of unused medications and prescriptions at Sacramento VA Medical Center on VA Take Back Day April 22, 2023

VA police officers will be available at the medical center’s main lobby of building 650 to provide U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)-approved collection containers to persons (not limited to Veterans) who may want to dispose of unwanted medications including controlled substance prescription medications, expired over-the-counter medications, etc. Members of the public should place unwanted medications in provided DEA-approved collection boxes and VA Police will deliver the unwanted medications to DEA for disposal.

VA is aligning with the DEA, welcoming non-Veterans to its health facilities across the nation and helping in the safe and secure drug disposal on designated dates during the year. Any member of the public is welcome, whether they have any affiliation to Veterans or VA. 

This action is the result of legislation signed into law by President Biden on July 29, 2021. The Dispose Unused Medications and Prescription (DUMP) Opioids Act requires VA to establish designated periods when Veterans and non-Veterans can dispose of opioids and other controlled substance medications at covered VA facilities. A covered facility is a VA medical facility with an onsite pharmacy and/or a physical location dedicated for law enforcement purposes.

Members of the public who can’t participate in VA Take Back Days can use DEA’s Public Disposal Locations Search Tool to find year-round collection sites. DEA holds twice yearly Take Back Days, on the last Saturday in April and October.

Veterans enrolled for VA care can bring their expired and unused medications to their VA sites of care for disposal any time by contacting their local VA Police Service or VA Pharmacy.

For more information, contact Sgt Jerry Dennis at 916-366-5401 or Detective Neil Wilkendorf at 916-843-9008.

Erika Figueroa, Deputy Public Affairs Officer

Phone: