Removing unused medication from your medicine cabinet prevents others from consuming it and potentially becoming addicted.
Do NOT dispose of medications down the drain or flush down the toilet as waste water treatment plants do not have the capacity to filter out or treat certain items (hormone medications, chemotherapy drugs, antibiotics, etc.) Ultimately, this can create harmful results in wildlife populations, such as fish infertility.
There are several ways to dispose of unused medication, whether prescription or over-the-counter:
- Find a free drug drop-off location near you
- Take advantage of National Drug Take-Back Day. Twice a year – April and October – the federal Drug Enforcement Agency’s (DEA) holds a national take back day. Learn more about National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day.
- If you cannot bring unwanted medications to a secure disposal drop-off location or obtain mail-back envelopes, as a last resort, follow these instructions for putting medications in the trash:
- Mix medications (do not crush tablets or capsules) with water and then add salt, ashes, dirt, cat litter, coffee grounds, or another undesirable substance to avoid accidental or intentional misuse of drugs.
- Do not conceal discarded drugs in food.
- Place all medications in an outer container, such as sealable bag, box, or plastic tub to prevent discovery and removal from the trash. Seal the container with strong tape.
- Dispose of drugs as close to your trash collection day as possible to avoid misuse and/or misdirection.
- How To Dispose Of Medicine – OCRRA