A reminder to return your unused opioids to your local pharmacy

In Australia, nearly 150 Australians are hospitalised every day due to opioid harm - external site. This number is too high, so we’re encouraging all Australians to return their unused opioids to their local pharmacy.

Opioids are addictive and can have serious interactions with other medicines. They can also be accidentally consumed by children or pets, and are known to be targets for theft and misuse. These are just some of the reasons you shouldn’t keep your unused opioids ‘just in case’.

To help get this important message out, we’ve sent each community pharmacy in Australia 500 repeat script covers encouraging safe disposal of unwanted medicines.

We are also running a social media campaign and have launched a kit full of resources for you to share with your audiences. If you’d like to join the conversation, check out #ReturnYourOpioids on Facebook and Twitter.

Safe disposal of unwanted medicines

Storage of expired and unwanted medicines in the home can be dangerous, and unsafe disposal of unwanted medicines can lead to environmental harm.

Your local community pharmacy provides a free and convenient way to dispose of your unwanted medicines responsibly. Prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, herbal or complementary supplements, gels, liquids, creams and pet medicines can all be returned to your community pharmacy for free, safe disposal.

For more information, see: Safe disposal of unwanted medicines