Proper Disposal of Prescription Drugs
- The Food and Drug Administration recommends only a limited number of drugs be flushed down the toilet to prevent abuse. The label on your medication will instruct you to dispose of unused pills by flushing them down the toilet if this is the FDA's recommendation. If the label does not state how pills should be disposed of, do not flush them down the toilet. Medications that are flushed down the toilet or thrown down the sink can affect the population's water supply. In 2008, an investigation by the Associated Press found trace amounts of drugs such as mood stabilizers, sex hormones and antibiotics in water supplies across the United States.
- Put your unused prescription medications in the trash to safely dispose of them. The FDA recommends mixing the pills with inedible substances such as used coffee grounds, cat litter or sawdust to prevent a child or animal from accidentally ingesting pills. This method also thwarts drug abusers who scavenge trash bins for discarded medication. Take the pills out of the prescription bottle and combine them with an undesirable material in a disposable container to prevent leakage. A jar, sealable plastic bag or tub with a lid can be used to hold the mixture. Dispose of the container with your trash. Before you throw away the prescription container, remove any identifying information such as the prescription number, medication name, or patient name and address. Peel off the label, cover the information with a black permanent marker or wrap the container in duct tape to make the information unreadable.
- Some communities have local disposal centers or programs that take unused prescription drugs and dispose of them properly. Contact your city or county trash and recycling department to see if a program or center exists in your area. The office will be able to give you specific information for proper drug disposal in your area. Some pharmacies also take back unused drugs for proper disposal.
