How to Safely Dispose of Unneeded Medicine
To help ensure that your unneeded or expired medicine does not end up in the wrong hands – where it could be accidentally or intentionally misused – you should promptly dispose of it. Here are three safe options:
Utilize a medicine take-back program
In an effort to address a crucial public health and safety issue and provide all Americans with an opportunity to help prevent drug addiction and overdoses, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) sponsors National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day a few times a year. On these days, temporary collection sites are set up in convenient locations in many communities across the U.S. Everyone is encouraged to clean out their medicine cabinet and safely and anonymously turn in any unneeded pharmaceutical products.
In some areas, there are permanently authorized pharmaceutical collection sites as well. DEA-registered collectors include certain hospital, clinical, and retail pharmacies, which may offer both on-site drop boxes and mail-in programs.
Consolidate unneeded medicine with household trash
Most medicines can be safely combined with general household trash. To do so:
- Mix the medication with an inedible material, such as dirt, kitty litter, or used coffee grounds.
- Secure the mixture in a zip-lock bag or other sealed container and place it in a trash receptacle.
- Check the label of the medicine packaging and be sure to remove any personal information, then place the package in a trash receptacle.
Flush unneeded medicine down a toilet
Some especially harmful and potentially lethal medications come with specific instructions to immediately flush any unneeded portion down a toilet. To reduce the risk of harming others, it is imperative to follow these instructions.
At South Tampa Immediate Care, we encourage everyone to promptly and safely dispose of their unused medications. If you have questions, contact or visit our walk-in medical clinic in Tampa, FL, today.
