How to Dispose of Prescription Drugs

In recent years, scientists have detected trace amounts of more than 150 different human and veterinary medicines in environments as far afield as the Arctic. Eighty percent of the U.S.’s streams and nearly a quarter of the nation’s groundwater sampled by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) has been found to be contaminated with a variety of medications.

In the meantime, according to an AP story, analysis of tap water supplies in major metropolitan areas conducted by the Associated Press has revealed that the water supply in 24 major U.S. cities — serving over 40 million people — are contaminated with trace amounts of pharmaceuticals including antibiotics, anti-seizure medications, anti-inflammatory drugs, psychotropic drugs, and pain medication.

Do you see where I’m going with this? Don’t flush old medications! Although much of the pollution comes from the urine of our over-prescribed population, flushing old medication clearly doesn’t help the situation. Individuals aside, one study estimated the nation’s nursing homes discard anywhere from $73 million to $378 million worth of drugs a year. Some are incinerated, but many are flushed.

Unused portions of these medicines must be disposed of properly to avoid harm to wildlife, pets, and people.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Patricia H.

8:32AM PDT on Apr 6, 2012

thanks for sharing

April 6
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Michele W.

9:00AM PDT on Apr 3, 2012

Thank you

April 3
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Trudy K.

1:15PM PST on Jan 9, 2012

Thanks for the insight on disposing of drugs. Many people do not finish all their meds. I just pulled about 8 bottles out of my medicine cabinet yesterday & wondered what to do with them. Now I have some options. Thanks again.

January 9
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David L.

7:46PM PST on Jan 5, 2012

Great article!

January 5
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Judith E.

3:04PM PST on Jan 4, 2012

Thank you so much for this very important info!

January 4
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Bonnie B.

2:45PM PDT on Aug 12, 2011

Thank you for posting this extremely important information, Melissa. I have read that frogs are having trouble mating because estrogen in birth control pills gets in water and they all end up female! Makes you wonder if this is part of the reason so many boys are "feminized" and men have ED, but many poisons and drugs could do this.