Amid a national epidemic of opioid addiction, overdoses and misuse, it’s vital to help keep these medicines out of the hands of those who may abuse them. Often, these drugs are found in home medicine cabinets, and a significant number of prescription drug overdoses are caused by unused or expired medications.Check this out :https://takebackyourmeds.org

Thankfully, there are safe and convenient ways to dispose of unwanted medication. First, check your local pharmacy’s website or call to see if they offer year-round medication disposal service. If they do, visit the pharmacy during store hours and place your unused medication in the Take Back Your Meds unit conveniently located in the Pharmacy Waiting Area.

The Environmental Impact of Unused Medications: Take Back Your Meds

If your pharmacy does not offer medication disposal services, the DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day takes place twice a year (April and October) and offers permanent drop-off locations across the country. Also, many local community recycling centers accept unwanted prescription and over-the-counter medication for proper disposal. For further information, check out the DEA’s Get Smart About Drugs and Find a Location pages.

In addition to these options, you can also mix your medicine with an inedible substance like dirt, kitty litter, used coffee grounds or salt and throw it away with your household trash. Be sure to remove any personal information from the medication label before throwing it away and wash or scratch out the empty bottle. You can then recycle the empty container. Some medications, such as mercury and iodine-containing medicines, are too dangerous to be flushed and should be disposed of at special hazardous waste facilities.

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