Flushing or throwing away old prescription and over-the-counter medications can have unexpected consequences. In Colorado, many residents face the challenge of managing unused drugs, which can pose risks to children and teens if accidentally accessed. Improper disposal can also harm the environment by contaminating water supplies, soil, and aquatic life. To prevent these issues, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends safe disposal methods, such as dropping off medications at designated take-back locations or mailing them using prepaid envelopes that lead to incineration. These envelopes are available at some pharmacies and online. Since 2016, Colorado’s Medication and Sharps Takeback program has collected over 181 metric tons of drugs through more than 300 drop-off sites and annual national take-back events in April and October. The collected drugs are incinerated, making them irretrievable and ensuring public and environmental safety. Despite the availability of these programs, challenges remain, especially for people in rural areas where access to take-back sites is limited. The FDA does recommend flushing certain medications down the toilet as a last resort, but this should be reserved for highly dangerous drugs, like fentanyl patches, to prevent accidental exposure. Flushing medications into the sewer can lead to contamination since wastewater treatment plants typically do not filter out drugs. Similarly, throwing medications in the trash can expose them to animals and people, and the drugs can leach into soil and groundwater at landfills. For those who cannot access take-back programs, at-home disposal products are a practical alternative. These products dissolve, bind, or neutralize medications so they can be safely disposed of in the trash. To evaluate their effectiveness, I tested several popular brands with staff from the University of Colorado Anschutz. The Pill Terminator, for example, uses a powder that turns into a gelatinous substance when mixed with water and medication. However, during testing, we found that some pills remained intact, especially when cold water was used. The Deterra Drug Deactivation System uses activated charcoal to adsorb medications after adding warm water, but it cannot neutralize certain drugs like vaccines or inorganic medications. The system also requires more vigorous shaking than the instructions suggest for optimal performance. The NarcX+ disposal system stands out as a biodegradable liquid that can be reused until the bottle is full. It is designed for both prescription and illicit drugs and showed effectiveness in breaking down medications over time. While it took longer to fully neutralize some medications compared to other products, it proved capable of handling a larger volume of pills than recommended. Unlike other systems, NarcX+ allows users to add more medications to the bottle over time. Each product has its own set of limitations, but all aim to provide a safer alternative to improper disposal of medications.