Safely Dispose Prescription Drugs on Drug Take Back Day
10/27/2022
Andrea Modlin, Inpatient Pharmacy Resident
In April 2022, the
United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) removed 720,000 pounds of
unneeded medication from 5,144 collection sites across the nation. Since the
beginning of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day in 2010, the DEA has
removed 16 million pounds of unused prescription medications.
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is October
29th and aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible method to safely
dispose of prescription drugs, while also educating the public about the
potential for the abuse of medications.
“Too often, unused or expired medications
find their way into the wrong hands, leading to accidental poisoning, overdose
or abuse,” says Andrea Modlin, a clinical pharmacist who is completing
her first year of pharmacy residency at Aspirus Wausau Hospital. “It’s
important to dispose of old drugs properly, and one way to do that is to drop them off at a medication
drop-box.”
Why Use a
Medication Drop-Box?
Protect the environment: Studies have found traces of pharmaceuticals in
wastewater throughout the United States. Even after wastewater is treated and
discharged, these pharmaceuticals persist in the environment. Preventing
medication from entering the environment will maintain the integrity, diversity
and value of our natural resources.
Increase Public Safety: According to the National Survey on Drug Abuse
& Health, 70 percent of those 12 years & older who abuse painkillers
obtained them through a friend or relative, both legally and illegally.
Improve Public Health: Throwing unused or unwanted medications in the
trash, or leaving them out, can lead to dangerous unintended exposure to people
or animals. Both prescription and over-the-counter medications should be
handled and stored just like any other poison.
Communities are encouraged to come together to help
rid homes of medications that are old, unwanted, or no longer needed. Drugs can
be disposed anytime throughout the year. Aspirus provides convenient public
medication drop off boxes at most Aspirus locations. Wisconsin Department of
Health alerts community members on what items can be placed in the medical
drop-box and where to bring those items.
What to
Bring?
Bring: prescription (controlled and non-controlled) and over-the-counter
medications, ointments, patches, non-aerosol sprays, inhalers, creams, vials,
and pet medications
Do Not Bring: Illegal drugs, needles/sharps, aerosol cans,
bio-hazardous materials (anything containing a bodily fluid or blood), mercury
thermometers, personal care products (shampoo, soaps, lotions, sunscreens,
etc...), household hazardous waste (paint, pesticides, oil, gas).
Aspirus has medication drop-boxes located
at Aspirus Wausau Hospital and Aspirus Medford Hospital, but there are others
located throughout the United States. To find a drop off location near you,
visit Controlled
Substance Public Disposal Locations - Search Utility (usdoj.gov)
Back to all Posts