California Code of Regulations
Title 16 - Professional and Vocational Regulations
Division 17 - California State Board of Pharmacy
Article 9.1 - Prescription Drug Take-Back Services
Section 1776.2 - Pharmacies Offering Mail Back Envelope or Package Services

(a) Pharmacies that provide prescription drug take-back services may do so by providing preaddressed mailing envelopes or packages to allow a consumer to return prescription drugs to an authorized DEA destruction location.

(b) All envelopes and packages must be preaddressed to a location registered with the DEA as a collector. The pharmacy is responsible for ensuring that all preaddressed envelopes and packages it makes available to the public are preaddressed for delivery to facilities that comply with this section.

(c) The preaddressed envelopes and packages must be water and spill proof, tamper evident, tear resistant and sealable. The exterior shall be nondescript and not include markings that indicate the envelope or package contains prescription drugs. Postage shall be prepaid on each envelope or package.

(d) The preaddressed envelope and package shall contain a unique identification number for each envelope and package, and instructions for users that indicate the process to mail back drugs.

(e) A pharmacy shall not accept any mail back packages or envelopes that contain drugs unless they are registered as a collector and have an onsite method of destruction that complies with the DEA requirements. Instead, consumers shall be directed to mail the envelopes or packages.