Sunset review: Drug Take-Back Program
September 2026
Sydney Romero, Andrew Hatt, Vivien Chen, research analysts
Ryan McCord, audit director; Eric Thomas, legislative auditor
Contact information
Legislative auditor's conclusion
The program met the Legislature’s aim for a statewide drug collection system. An unachievable kiosk requirement, lack of performance measures, and funding pose unresolved challenges.
Read the full reportKey points
- Drug manufacturers pay businesses (operators) to run drug take-back programs required by law. The Department of Health (Health) regulates the programs.
- 177 of 281 communities have enough drug collection sites to meet legal requirements. Requirements may not be achievable in smaller communities.
- Limited information exists about program performance or whether it achieves the Legislature’s goals for environmental impact and overdose prevention.
- The recent withdrawal of one operator means fewer collection sites and 50% less funding for Health’s oversight.
- The program is subject to the Sunset Act. It will end in January 2029 unless reauthorized by the Legislature.
Legislative auditor’s recommendations
The legislative auditor makes two recommendations.
Recommendation #1
The Legislature should continue the program with changes to address unresolved challenges.
The program has carried out the core of what the Legislature intended by creating a single statewide program that is largely funded by manufacturers. However, the kiosk requirement may be unachievable as written, and studies to assess outcomes are incomplete or not useful.
The Legislature may wish to consider statutory changes to address these challenges. If so, Health should provide current data to inform the policy discussions.
Depends on legislative decisions.
2027 or 2028 legislative session
Recommendation #2
Health should clearly prioritize its activities and set performance measures and goals for its work.
Health should define its priorities to maximize oversight in the context of reduced funding. Performance measures will help it assess whether those activities are effective and efficient.
Health can implement this recommendation within existing resources.
June 30, 2027
To be included in proposed final report.
Video summary
Read the full report
Sunset review: Drug Take-Back Program (HTML)
Read an overview
Read the agency response
To be included in proposed final report
Legislative mandate