There was a time when public health agencies advised Americans to get rid of their unwanted medication by flushing them down the toilet. But now, because trace amounts of drugs have begun turning up in our drinking water, lakes and streams, that recommendation has changed.
The SMARxT public service campaign urges people to be kinder to the environment. Now, when you toss your leftover or expired pills and syrups, you should pour them into a sealable plastic bag. (If the medication is a pill or capsule, dissolve it in water first.) Then, add kitty litter or used coffee grounds to the bag before tossing it in the household trash. The granules will absorb the liquid and make it less attractive to pets and small children. Finally, to prevent identity theft, remove and destroy personal information from medicine bottles before recycling.
One caveat: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says that certain medications, including some opioid painkillers, should still be flushed down the toilet. The FDA recommends the following medications be flushed down the toilet instead of thrown in the trash:
fentanyl citrate (Actiq)
methylphenidate (Daytrana) transdermal patch
fentanyl (Duragesic) transdermal system
oxycodone (OxyContin) tablets
morphine sulfate (Avinza) capsules
entecavir (Baraclude) tablets
atazanavir sulfate (Reyataz) capsules
gatifloxacin (Tequin) tablets
stavudine (Zerit) for oral solution
meperidine HCl tablets
oxycodone and acetaminophen (Percocet)
sodium oxybate (Xyrem)
fentanyl buccal tablet (Fentora)
For more on how to dispose of drugs, visit the SMARxT Disposal campaign’s Web site.
Though narcotic pain relievers may enter the water supply if they are flushed down the toilet, the greater worry with these drugs, according to the FDA, is the potential for their accidental or intentional abuse if they are thrown into the household trash.
For example, even after fentanyl patches are used, quite a bit of the narcotic pain reliever remains in the patch, and as it is meant to be absorbed through the skin, it could accidentally harm a child or infant who got into the garbage.
If you want to go one step greener when getting rid of your unused medications, look for one of the prescription drug "take back" programs that are sprouting up in communities across the country. To see if there is one in your area, go to:
http://earth911.com/hazardous/medications/