Larimer County Sheriff's Office to Host Fall Drug Take Back Day at Three Locations October 25
Larimer County residents can safely dispose of unwanted and expired medications at three collection sites on October 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. as part of the fall Drug Take Back Day coordinated by the Larimer County Sheriff's Office.
Collection locations include Berthoud Town Hall at 807 Mountain Avenue, the Red Feather Trading Post at 41 Main Street in Red Feather Lakes, and the Larimer County Sheriff's Office Wellington Substation at 3735 Cleveland Avenue.
The event provides an opportunity for residents to prevent medication misuse, accidental poisoning, and environmental contamination by disposing of pharmaceuticals through secure channels designed to keep drugs out of landfills, watersheds, and the wrong hands.
Improper Disposal Threatens Water Quality
Medications flushed down toilets or discarded in household trash can enter Northern Colorado's rivers, groundwater, and drinking water supplies, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Wastewater treatment plants typically cannot remove all pharmaceutical residues, allowing compounds from painkillers, antidepressants, hormones, and antibiotics to reach waterways.
These pharmaceutical residues can disrupt aquatic life, alter reproductive cycles of fish, and potentially contribute to antibiotic resistance in both wildlife and human populations. The risk of persistent bioactive contaminants accumulating and moving downstream presents particular concerns for Colorado's Front Range watersheds, where interconnected river systems like the Poudre and South Platte supply water to multiple communities.
Unused prescriptions stored in homes also create direct public health risks as a leading source of accidental poisoning, especially among children and the elderly, and contribute to prescription drug misuse and diversion.
Biannual Events Supplement Year-Round Disposal Options
Drug Take Back Day events occur twice annually in Larimer County, coinciding with the national DEA Drug Take Back Day in spring and fall. The national program launched in 2010 to address growing substance abuse and environmental risks associated with improper medication disposal.
Previous Larimer County collection events have gathered substantial quantities of medications. The April 2023 Drug Take Back Day collected over 900 pounds of medications at Larimer County sites, while the October 2022 event gathered roughly 880 pounds. Annual collection volumes across all take-back activities in the county generally range from 1,500 to 2,000 pounds per year.
All collected medications are destroyed by high-temperature incineration, ensuring pharmaceutical compounds do not contaminate water or soil.
Permanent Drop-Off Sites Available
Beyond the biannual events, Larimer County residents have access to year-round medication disposal through secure kiosks at multiple locations. Fort Collins Police Services at 2221 South Timberline Road, Loveland Police Department at 810 East 10th Street, and the Larimer County Sheriff's main office at 2501 Midpoint Drive all maintain drop-boxes available during business hours Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
University of Colorado Health Medical Center of the Rockies at 2500 Rocky Mountain Avenue in Loveland provides 24-hour access to medication disposal in the main hospital lobby. Select King Soopers and City Market pharmacy locations also offer permanent disposal kiosks during pharmacy hours.
The permanent disposal sites accept prescription medications including controlled substances, over-the-counter medications, prescription patches, ointments, creams, inhalers, veterinary medications, vitamins, and supplements. The kiosks do not accept syringes, needles, sharps, thermometers, chemotherapy drugs, or illicit substances.
All permanent sites operate anonymously and free of charge, with no identification required. Medications can be deposited in original containers or sealed bags, and names or labels do not need to be removed.
Colorado households are exempt from hazardous waste regulations for pharmaceutical disposal, though state and local public health agencies strongly discourage flushing medications or discarding them in trash. Residents are urged to use approved take-back programs for safe, secure, and environmentally responsible disposal.
For current information about year-round collection sites and hours, residents can contact specific law enforcement offices or visit the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment medication take-back program website.