Many people wonder what they should do with leftover medication when they are changed to a different drug and no longer need what is left or if the medication has expired.

A lot of people have the misunderstanding that simply flushing medication down the toilet or sink is correct and will have no effects, but the simple answer is “No” to disposing in the toilet or sink. The main issue is that the medication will end up in the water supply finding its way into the oceans and rivers. This is form of pollution.

The first and best choice of what to do with unused or expired medication is to bring them to a medication take-back program, if one is offered in, or near, your community. Some counties have collection days when they will accept unneeded prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Also, there are pharmacies that are registered to take unwanted medication and will have bins for drop off. You can find this information and search for locations on this website: http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov

If a take-back program or pharmacy drop off is not available, there are acceptable steps to ensure that medication is properly disposed of at home. First, make sure to remove or cover any personal information and the prescription number from the container. Next, take all the medication out of the containers. Then, mix them with an unpleasant or inedible substance, such as kitty litter, used coffee grounds, sawdust, or a cleaning powder along with water. After, place the mixture in a sealable bag or container with a lid, such as a butter container, and secure it with duct tape. Finally, all of the containers may be placed in the garbage.

Another question may be “Why are all of these steps necessary?”. There are a few issues we can prevent by taking these simple steps. One is to make sure that children and pets do not accidentally ingest the medications and, possibly, become poisoned. Another potential problem is the chance of taking the wrong medication or too much of the same. Also, proper disposal will help reduce the chance that the medication will end up in the water supply.

Proper disposal of unused or expired medication is important to the safety and health of yourself and your loved ones. It is to help prevent the chances of unintentional use or abuse by others for who the medication was not prescribed. If a child, adult, or pet has enough of the discarded/unused medication in their system, it could lead to dangerous breathing problems and result in death.