If you have any unused prescriptions around the house, it’s important to get rid of them safely.
The best thing to do is bring them to a drug disposal box or take-back event. You can also safely dispose of needles at ENCORE Needle Exchange (located at 557 Broad Street, Providence, RI, 02907 – phone: 401-781-0665). Use this list to see how to get rid of medicines or medical waste.
Most prescription painkillers are called controlled substances because they are very addictive — especially if they’re not used correctly. To get rid of prescription painkillers, make sure the drug disposal location you’re visiting will accept controlled substances.
Learn more
Learn more about the Prescription Drug Take Back Program.
Get the facts about Prescription Drug safety.
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| Title | Category | Address | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | AIDS Care Ocean State, ENCORE Needle Exchange | Community Agencies | 557 Broad Street, Providence, RI, 02907 | Phone: 401-781-0665 Hours: M-F 10AM - 5PM, TU and TH 6PM - 8PM. Call for more info. Only sharps (like needles or syringes) are accepted. Visit Website |
 | Baker's Pharmacy of Jamestown | Pharmacies | 53 Narragansett Ave Jamestown, RI 02835 | Phone: 401-423-2800 Accepts: Some prescription medicines and over-the-counter medications, but not controlled substances. Does not accept: Controlled substances, prescription liquids, lotions, ointments, aerosols, or sharps (like needles or syringes). Visit Website |
| East Side Prescription Center | Pharmacies | 632 Hope St Providence, RI 02906 | Phone: 401-751-1430 Accepts: Some prescription medicines and over-the-counter medications, but not controlled substances. Does not accept: Controlled substances, prescription liquids, lotions, ointments, aerosols, or sharps (like needles or syringes). |
| CVS | Pharmacies | 681 Reservoir Avenue, Cranston, RI, 02910 | Phone: 401-943-7186 Accepts: All prescription medicines, including controlled substances (like prescription painkillers) and over-the-counter medications. Does not accept: Prescription liquids, lotions, ointments, aerosols, or sharps (like needles or syringes). |
| CVS | Pharmacies | 3986 Old Post Road, Charlestown, RI, 02813 | |
| CVS | Pharmacies | 763 Tiogue Avenue, Coventry, RI, 02816 | |
| CVS | Pharmacies | 681 Reservoir Avenue, Cranston, RI, 02910 | |
| CVS | Pharmacies | 640 Warren Avenue, East Providence, RI, 02914 | |
| CVS | Pharmacies | 1400 Hartford Avenue, Johnston, RI, 02919 | |
| CVS | Pharmacies | 99 East Main Road, Middletown, RI, 02842 | |
| CVS | Pharmacies | 287 Broadway, Newport, RI | |
| CVS | Pharmacies | 1919 Mineral Spring Avenue, North Providence, RI, 02904 | |
| CVS | Pharmacies | 120 Eddie Dowling Highway, North Smithfield, RI, 02896 | |
| CVS | Pharmacies | 835 Newport Avenue, Pawtucket, RI, 02861 | |
| CVS | Pharmacies | 11 Main Street, Wakefield, RI, 02879 | |
| CVS | Pharmacies | 767 Warwick Avenue, Warwick, RI, 02888 | |
| CVS | Pharmacies | 2400 Warwick Avenue, Meadowbrook Plaza, Warwick, RI, 02889 | |
| CVS | Pharmacies | 150 Granite Street, Westerly, RI, 02891 | |
| Simpson's Pharmacy | Pharmacies | 10 Newport Ave Pawtucket, RI 02861 | Phone: 401-722-7600 Accepts: Some prescription medicines and over-the-counter medications, but not controlled substances. Does not accept: Controlled substances, prescription liquids, lotions, ointments, aerosols, or sharps (like needles or syringes). Visit Website |
| Walgreens | Pharmacies | 533 Elmwood Ave, Providence, RI 02907 | Phone: 401-781-7930 Accepts: All prescription medicines, including controlled substances (like prescription painkillers) and over-the-counter medications. Does not accept: Prescription liquids, lotions, ointments, aerosols, or sharps (like needles or syringes). Visit Website |
| Walgreens | Pharmacies | 100 Broad St, Pawtucket, RI 02860 | Phone: 401-724-6724 Accepts: All prescription medicines, including controlled substances (like prescription painkillers) and over-the-counter medications. Does not accept: Prescription liquids, lotions, ointments, aerosols, or sharps (like needles or syringes). Visit Webiste |
 | Attleboro Police Department | Police Departments | 12 Union Street Attleboro RI 02703 | Phone: 508-222-1212 Accepts: All prescription medicines, including controlled substances (like prescription painkillers) and over-the-counter medications. Does not accept: Prescription liquids, lotions, ointments, aerosols, or sharps (like needles or syringes). 24-hour access |
| Barrington Police Department | Police Departments | 110 Federal Road Barrington RI 02806 | Phone: 401-437-3935 Accepts: All prescription medicines, including controlled substances (like prescription painkillers) and over-the-counter medications. Does not accept: Prescription liquids, lotions, ointments, aerosols, or sharps (like needles or syringes). |
| Burrillville Police Department | Police Departments | 1477 Victory Highway Burrillville RI 02830 | Phone: 401-568-6255 Accepts: All prescription medicines, including controlled substances (like prescription painkillers) and over-the-counter medications. Does not accept: Prescription liquids, lotions, ointments, aerosols, or sharps (like needles or syringes). |
| Charlestown Police Department | Police Departments | 4901 Old Post Road Charlestown RI 02813 | Phone: 401-364-1212 Accepts: All prescription medicines, including controlled substances (like prescription painkillers) and over-the-counter medications. Does not accept: Prescription liquids, lotions, ointments, aerosols, or sharps (like needles or syringes). |
| East Greenwich Police Department | Police Departments | 176 First Avenue East Greenwich RI 02818 | Phone: 401-884-2244 Accepts: All prescription medicines, including controlled substances (like prescription painkillers) and over-the-counter medications. Does not accept: Prescription liquids, lotions, ointments, aerosols, or sharps (like needles or syringes). |
| Foster Police Department | Police Departments | 182 Howard Hill Road Foster RI 02825 | Phone: 401-397-3317 Accepts: All prescription medicines, including controlled substances (like prescription painkillers) and over-the-counter medications. Does not accept: Prescription liquids, lotions, ointments, aerosols, or sharps (like needles or syringes). |
| Hopkinton Police Department | Police Departments | 406 Woodville Road Hopkinton RI 02833 | Phone: 401-377-7750 Accepts: All prescription medicines, including controlled substances (like prescription painkillers) and over-the-counter medications. Does not accept: Prescription liquids, lotions, ointments, aerosols, or sharps (like needles or syringes). |
| Jamestown Police Department | Police Departments | 250 Conanicus Ave Jamestown RI 02835 | Phone: 401-423-1212 Accepts: All prescription medicines, including controlled substances (like prescription painkillers) and over-the-counter medications. Does not accept: Prescription liquids, lotions, ointments, aerosols, or sharps (like needles or syringes).> |
| Little Compton Police Department | Police Departments | 60 Simmons Road Little Compton RI 02837 | Phone: 401-635-2311 Accepts: All prescription medicines, including controlled substances (like prescription painkillers) and over-the-counter medications. Does not accept: Prescription liquids, lotions, ointments, aerosols, or sharps (like needles or syringes). |
| Middletown Police Department | Police Departments | 123 Valley Rd Middletown RI 02842 | Phone: 401-846-1104 Accepts: All prescription medicines, including controlled substances (like prescription painkillers) and over-the-counter medications. Does not accept: Prescription liquids, lotions, ointments, aerosols, or sharps (like needles or syringes). 24-hour access |
| Narragansett Police Department | Police Departments | 40 Caswell Street Narragansett RI 02882 | Phone: 401-789-1091 Accepts: All prescription medicines, including controlled substances (like prescription painkillers) and over-the-counter medications. Does not accept: Prescription liquids, lotions, ointments, aerosols, or sharps (like needles or syringes). |
| Narragansett Tribal Police Department | Police Departments | 4375 B South County Trail Charlestown RI 02813 | Phone: 401-364-1107 Accepts: All prescription medicines, including controlled substances (like prescription painkillers) and over-the-counter medications. Does not accept: Prescription liquids, lotions, ointments, aerosols, or sharps (like needles or syringes). |
| North Kingstown Police Department | Police Departments | 8166 Post Road North Kingstown RI 02852 | Phone: 401-294-3316 Accepts: All prescription medicines, including controlled substances (like prescription painkillers) and over-the-counter medications. Does not accept: Prescription liquids, lotions, ointments, aerosols, or sharps (like needles or syringes). |
| Providence Public Safety Complex | Police Departments | 325 Washington Street Providence RI 02901 | Phone: 401-421-2489 Accepts: All prescription medicines, including controlled substances (like prescription painkillers) and over-the-counter medications. Does not accept: Prescription liquids, lotions, ointments, aerosols, or sharps (like needles or syringes). |
| Richmond Police Department | Police Departments | 1168 Main Street Wyoming RI 02898 | Phone: 401-539-8289 Accepts: All prescription medicines, including controlled substances (like prescription painkillers) and over-the-counter medications. Does not accept: Prescription liquids, lotions, ointments, aerosols, or sharps (like needles or syringes). |
| Tiverton Police Department | Police Departments | 20 Industrial Way Tiverton RI 02878 | Phone: 401-625-6717 Accepts: All prescription medicines, including controlled substances (like prescription painkillers) and over-the-counter medications. Does not accept: Prescription liquids, lotions, ointments, aerosols, or sharps (like needles or syringes). |
| West Warwick Police Department | Police Departments | 1162 Main St, West Warwick, RI 02893 | Phone: 401-821-4323 Accepts: All prescription medicines, including controlled substances (like prescription painkillers) and over-the-counter medications. Does not accept: Prescription liquids, lotions, ointments, aerosols, or sharps (like needles or syringes). |
| Westerly Police Department | Police Departments | 60 Airport Road Westerly RI 02891 | Phone: 401-596-2022 Accepts: All prescription medicines, including controlled substances (like prescription painkillers) and over-the-counter medications. Does not accept: Prescription liquids, lotions, ointments, aerosols, or sharps (like needles or syringes). |
| Woonsocket Police Department | Police Departments | 242 Clinton St Woonsocket RI 02895 | Phone: 401-766-1212 Accepts: All prescription medicines, including controlled substances (like prescription painkillers) and over-the-counter medications. Does not accept: Prescription liquids, lotions, ointments, aerosols, or sharps (like needles or syringes). 24-hour access Website |
| Warwick Police Department | Police Departments | 99 Veterans Memorial Dr, Warwick, RI 02886 | Phone: 401-468-4200 Accepts: All prescription medicines, including controlled substances (like prescription painkillers) and over-the-counter medications. Does not accept: Prescription liquids, lotions, ointments, aerosols, or sharps (like needles or syringes). |
Thanks to Aware RX and our friends at NOPE-RI for finding these resources. If you have something to add or correct, please email us using the Your Comments box at the bottom of this page.