Why Safe Drug Disposal Is Important (and How to Do It)
Do you have a closet in the bathroom or in the kitchen full of medicines that you don’t use? Those antibiotics you should have finished but didn’t, those painkillers you were given too much after surgery, some expired vitamins maybe? It’s probably time to get rid of them, and we have some tips on how to do it.
Conveniently, National Drug Take Back Day is approaching, and it’s likely that there will be a drug take-back event in your community. Google has a tool to find a location near you . Most of them will be open from 10:00 to 14:00 on April 30, 2022.
Why is it important to dispose of drugs safely?
It may be tempting to carry your medications “just in case,” but there are downsides.
First, drugs can be abused. I’m not saying your child/neighbor/nephew will steal your old painkillers, but many prescription drug abusers get them from family and friends .
Secondly, there is a risk that someone will accidentally take the wrong drug. Your little one can reach into the first aid kit, but there is another possibility: one night you will reach for one thing in the dark before going to bed, and end up taking another pill that was in the same bottle.
Expired medicines may still be effective , but the reason they have an expiration date is because after that date their effectiveness and safety are not guaranteed. Some medications break down over time, so if you end up taking a decade-old allergy medication, it may not help relieve itching and sneezing.
How to properly dispose of medicines
We have a guide to safe drug disposal here . A drug take-back event is the best way to go, as it is actually for drug disposal. Usually collected medicines are burned.
If you miss the national event, you still have options. Pharmacies sometimes take medicines for disposal, and community organizations and places like police departments also sometimes hold local take-back days.
Otherwise, if you have a drug that you’d rather get out of the house as soon as possible, the FDA recommends checking to see if it’s on the flush list . Drugs on the list can be flushed down the toilet. This is not the best option, as drugs really shouldn’t be released into the environment, and sewage treatment plants usually don’t destroy them, but in a pinch, that’s fine. Medications that are not on the dump list can be thrown in the trash following FDA guidelines, but again, returning is considered the best way to get rid of them.