Safe Medication Disposal: Do It Right
Safe Medication Disposal: Do It Right
D. S. Mitchell
Read the Dates
I was getting packed for my third move in two years. I know, too many, too often, but it was a strange set of circumstances and not worth talking about here. Usually I just go into the bathroom and dump the drawers into a box and then sweep the contents of the cabinet shelves into another box, and voila, the bathroom is packed. But, I picked up the first bottle, a bottle of Aspirin and glanced at the expiration date. Holy Moly, it had expired three years ago. That knowledge shook me up a bit. I’m a retired R.N. for Pete’s sake. The next bottle, a prescription for Flexeril, was outdated by 10 months. I was two for two. Not good. Next, was a bottle of cough syrup, expired the previous year. I was batting 100%.
I Have Information
If your medicine chest is full of outdated medications or medications you no longer need and you are wondering how to dispose of them I have some information for you. The best option is to use community-based drug disposal programs. Go to the DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) website, dea.gov and use their search tool to find an authorized drug disposal collector in your area.
Local Police Departments
If you don’t find a program in your area don’t give up, call your local police department or county sheriff. Often these law enforcement centers have disposal programs. As a last resort you may be forced to dispose of them yourself. Please do not flush medications down the toilet, or the sink. These toxins are dangerous to animals, fish and water systems. Throwing them in the trash, makes them available to folks who may try to use them, no matter what they are.
The FDA Advises
Many medications include specific disposal instructions from the manufacturer. Please follow any such disposal instructions. Some prescriptions even come with a small packet of ‘disposal chemicals.’ Just open the packet and follow the instructions. The FDA advises that if there are no disposal instructions, do as follows: If the medication is tablets, crush thoroughly. If medication is capsules, open capsules and release contents. Then: 1). Mix medication with used coffee grounds, kitty litter or dirt/sand to disguise the medication making it less desirable to children, pets and drug seekers. 2). Place the mixture in a sealable bag, empty can or other container to prevent the medication from leaking out of the garbage bag. 3) Be sure to obliterate any personal information on the prescription bottle to protect your identity and health information before you throw it away.
At the Cop Shop
In my case, when it was all said and done, I had a shopping bag full of outdated and unneeded medications. The amount as I said was quite alarming, definitely too much to smash and seal. I guess I am a “closet” hoarder. Or, just inattentive. I decided to call my local police department and see if they had a disposal program. The answering officer said they did indeed offer a safe medication disposal program. I took my shopping bag of medications into the cop shop where an officer dumped them into a secured bin. The officer told me the drugs “would be incinerated.”
And Then There’s Kaiser
Another suggestion was offered by a friend of mine. My friend has Kaiser Permanente insurance and told me that in the lobby of all the Kaiser Pharmacies there is a large metal bin (the size of a post office collection box) where people can drop unwanted OTC meds and prescription medications. The unwanted meds are then disposed of by the pharmacy.
I hope my little piece of life experience makes you think before you toss medication into the trash, or flush it down the toilet. Be a good citizen, dispose of drugs responsibly.
