Why Properly Disposing of Medications is Important
Improperly disposing of medications, especially prescription opioids and other controlled substances, can have serious consequences. Dumping pills down the drain or throwing them in the trash can lead to environmental pollution and unintentional poisoning. Additionally, keeping unused medications around the house, often in unlocked medicine cabinets, can provide easy access for intentional misuse and abuse. Therefore, it is crucial to responsibly dispose of unneeded medications.
Dangers of Medication Accumulation
Allowing medications, both prescription and over-the-counter, to accumulate can pose numerous risks:
- Accidental poisoning, especially in children and pets who may ingest the medications without realizing the danger
- Intentional abuse, if medications fall into the wrong hands of those seeking to misuse them
- Confusion or errors, if multiple bottles of the same or similar medications build up over time
- Waste, as medications expire and have to be replaced
- Environmental contamination, if disposed of improperly into landfills or water sources
Establishing habits to use up medications as prescribed and promptly dispose of any leftovers or expired drugs can help avoid these pitfalls.
How to Dispose of Medications at Home
For medications other than controlled substances, the Office of National Drug Control Policy provides guidelines for safe at-home disposal:
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Mix drugs with unappealing substance: Add water, dirt, cat litter, or used coffee grounds to start breaking medications down and make them unappealing for consumption.
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Seal mixture in container: Place the mixture in a sealed plastic bag or container to contain odors and prevent leakage.
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Throw container in trash: Discard the sealed container in your regular household trash. Make sure to scratch out any personal information on prescription bottles before discarding to protect privacy.
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Flush only when instructed: Certain potent medications may come with specific instructions to flush them down the toilet. Otherwise, avoid flushing medications as they can contaminate the water supply.
Caution Regarding Controlled Substances
For controlled substances, including prescription opioid pain medications and benzodiazepines, flushing or throwing away is no longer recommended due to concerns about environmental pollution and misuse. The Food and Drug Administration and Drug Enforcement Administration now advise using authorized collection sites instead.
Drug Take-Back Programs and Drop Boxes
The DEA sponsors national prescription drug take-back days periodically throughout the year. Many communities also have permanent collection sites such as drop boxes at police stations and pharmacies. These options allow for safe, anonymous disposal with no questions asked.
To find an authorized collection site:
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Check the DEA's registration log: Search your zip code at https://apps2.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubdispsearch/spring/main?execution=e1s1
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Call local law enforcement: Police departments often know locations of permanent drop boxes.
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Ask your pharmacy: Many pharmacies participate in drug take-back programs.
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Check city/county websites: Local government sites may list upcoming take-back events.
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See if mail-back programs are available: Some retailers provide prepaid envelopes to safely return medications through the mail.
When using drug take-back programs:
- Remove labels or black out personal information from containers
- Leave drugs in original packaging to identify contents
- Deposit loose pills or liquids directly into collection box/envelope
- Follow instructions provided at the collection site
Why Take-Back Programs are the Safest Option
Drop boxes and take-back programs offer the most secure and environmentally safe method to get rid of unneeded medications, especially controlled substances prone to misuse and abuse. Benefits include:
- Prevent misuse: Medications are out of the home and securely destroyed.
- Protect the environment: Drugs are incinerated, not released into landfills or water.
- Maintain privacy: Take-back programs don't require personal information.
- Easy and convenient: Permanent drop boxes are accessible year-round.
Safe Storage of Medications You Are Still Using
While promptly disposing of expired or leftover medications is crucial, it is also important to safely and securely store the medications you still need and use. Recommended practices include:
- Keeping medications up and away and out of children's reach. Use locks on cabinets if needed.
- Storing medications somewhere out of sight if possible.
- Keeping track of medication inventories and safely locking up controlled substances.
- Never sharing or giving prescription medications to others.
- Bringing only needed doses of medications along when leaving home to prevent loss or theft.
Proper storage prevents accidents with children and pets, deters misuse by teens or visitors in the home, and allows better inventory management so old or unneeded medications can be promptly discarded.
The Bottom Line
Disposing of medications seems like a mundane chore, but properly getting rid of unneeded or expired drugs is vitally important. Accumulating medications can lead to accidental poisoning, fuel the opioid epidemic through diversion and misuse, and damage the environment if flushed or tossed in the trash. Use take-back programs when available, especially for controlled substances. For other medications, mix with an unpalatable substance and throw away in your household trash (unless flushing is explicitly advised). Implementing safe habits of promptly disposing unneeded medications can protect your family and community.