New ways to safely dispose of old meds
Most of us have unused, leftover medicine in our homes. And with safety in mind, we generally dispose of them by pouring them down the drain, flushing them or throwing them in the trash. But disposing of our medications this way can be bad for the environment and is no longer recognized as proper disposal. While the effects of long-term disposal of pharmaceutical contaminants on wildlife and humans are being evaluated, there is a national effort to promote disposal methods that are more environmentally friendly. Currently North Carolina does not have a state-wide medication disposal program, but that does not mean those old meds should pile up in the house. Based on the SMARxT DISPOSALTM campaign, a public-private partnership between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the American Pharmacists Association, and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, here are some tips for a child-safe and environment-friendly way to dispose of old medications.
Check before you flush
Flushing your old medicine down the toilet or sink may seem easy and safe, but the meds can actually go to the streams and lakes through the water system. So to help the water stay clean, the flushing method should only be used when instructed to do so. Please check with your pharmacist to see if your leftover medicine can be flushed. If not, take the following steps to dispose of it.
Crush and dissolve
To make sure that the medicine does not get into the hands of children or the mouth of family pets, crush the unused solid medicine (tablets, capsules) and dilute the liquid medicine (syrup, oral solution) with some water.
Mix, bag, and seal
Mix the crushed or watered-down medicine with coffee grounds, cat litter, sawdust or other solid waste, then bag the mix in a plastic bag and seal the bag.
Now you can throw that sealed bag into the trashcan without worrying that children or animals might get into it.
NOTE: This disposal method can be used for most medications, but due to high potential for misuse and abuse, the FDA recommends that some medications be flushed for disposal instead of thrown in the trash. To learn which meds you should flush, or for more information on proper medication disposal, visit smarxtdisposal.net.
