drug disposal

[yorkmaine]

where can I dispose of old prescription drugs?

[ladylake1]

Marion County Sheriff and Lady Lake Police both have periodic drug collections. They are normally published in the Daily Sun. You may want to contact those offices to see when the next one is or if there is an alternative way to dispose of them. Sumter County may also do this but I don't recall it being in TV.

[Bonnevie]

How to Dispose of Unused Medicines (http://www.fda.gov/forconsumers/consumerupdates/ucm101653.htm#guidelines)

this describes process from FDA

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

I just flush them down the toilet.

[dbussone]

I just flush them down the toilet.


Not a good idea. We have all kinds of drugs now finding their way into groundwater and our drinking supply because of the disposal method you describe.

[nnurse]

As a Hospice nurse, we just put the pills in a half cup of water, let them dissolve, then dump the goo in a diaper or Pull up. All capsules should be opened and sprinkled in cup of water also. Then throw in garbage. If no diaper or pull up, just dump in a bunch of paper towels and put in garbage.

[villagetinker]

I am surprised at the FDA process, as the pills end up in a landfill. I found that some of the pharmacies have bags you can purchase to send drugs to a suitable disposal firm.

[Halibut]

Florida DEP (http://www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/categories/medications/) agrees that they'd rather see them in a landfill, but with restrictions:

1. Keep in the original container. This will help identify the contents if they are accidentally ingested.
2. Mark out your name & prescription number for safety.
3. For pills: add some water or soda to start dissolving them; for liquids: add something inedible like cat litter or dirt
4. Close the lid and secure with duct or packing tape
5. Place the bottle(s) inside an opaque (non see-through) container like a detergent container.
6. Tape that container closed.
7. Hide the container in the trash. Do not put it in the recycle bin.

DO NOT give drugs to anyone else
DO NOT flush drugs down the toilet.
DO NOT put drugs in the trash without disguising them – human or animal scavengers may find them and misuse them.

[Bizdoc]

Many drug stores will accept and destroy your old prescription drugs. Ask your pharmacist.