GLOUCESTER, MA — The City of Gloucester will participate in the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 10AM to 1PM. This event is sponsored by the Gloucester Police Department and Gloucester Health Department. Residents are encouraged to safely dispose of unneeded or expired medications at a collection site.
The event will take place in the back parking lot of the Rose Baker Center for Aging Well, located at 6 Manuel F. Lewis St. in Gloucester. The Gloucester Health Department will also be on site providing free Narcan and training on how to use it.
National Drug Take Back Day provides an opportunity for residents to safely dispose of medications they no longer need, helping to prevent accidental poisonings, medication misuse, and the improper disposal of pharmaceuticals.
Accepted Items
- Prescription medications
- Over-the-counter medication samples
- Narcotics
- Veterinary medications
- Vitamins
Items Not Accepted
- Syringes (these can be disposed of in the 24/7 collection boxes at the Gloucester Police Department or Addison Gilbert Hospital)
- IV bags
- Bloody or infectious waste
- Empty containers
- Personal care products
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Inhalers
- Thermometers (mercury thermometers can be disposed of through the Gloucester Health Department)
Residents are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to clear out unused medications and help keep their homes and community safe. The availability of free Narcan and training will also provide residents with an opportunity to learn how to recognize and respond to a potential opioid overdose.
If you cannot make it to this event, please note that there is a medication disposal box located at the Gloucester Police Department at 197 Main Street.
Event Details
What: DEA National Drug Take Back Day
When: Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: Rose Baker Center for Aging Well, back parking lot, 6 Manuel F. Lewis St., Gloucester, MA
Additional Services: Free Narcan and training provided by the Gloucester Health Department
For more information about medication disposal, contact the Gloucester Health Department.
—
Mayor Paul Lundberg
City of Gloucester
