Got Drugs?

There are numerous reasons why prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceuticals become unwanted.  Some reasons are avoidable while others are not.  Many people stop taking drugs due to side-effects, their lack of effectiveness, dosing or medication changes made by physicians or quicker recovery periods than anticipated.  Also, medications may have reached their expiration dates before they are completely used up.

These unwanted prescription medications can become a hazard in homes.   Each year tens of thousands of our children and young adults and confused seniors die from overdoses and/or accidental ingestion of prescription medications.

On a national level, estimates point to upwards of 200 million pounds of pharmaceutical waste being generated each year. The old, widely accepted advice to flush these materials is no longer acceptable.  Over the past few years, this waste has been detected in growing amounts in water sources around the country. The effect of this remains unknown on our health and the health of our children. 

Few practical and safe solutions currently exist for the safe disposal of unwanted medications.  The Drug Enforcement Administration has taken action and announced that Saturday April 30, 2011 is “National Drug Take Back Day”.  This initiative allows for the drop-off of unwanted or expired prescription medications, both controlled and non-controlled, as well as over-the-counter pharmaceutical products free-of-charge and anonymously.  For more details and location information of a drop-off site near you, check out: www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/index.html.