What To Do With Leftover Meds

What To Do With Leftover Meds
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CHEYENNE, WY — Rising trends in the abuse of prescription drugs has local authorities and organizations asking residents to be mindful of how they dispose of leftover prescription medication.
There is more to the proper disposal of medications than flushing them down the toilet. In fact, that method is no longer considered best because it pollutes the water.
Instead, authorities ask that precautions be taken to ensure that leftover drugs don’t end up in wastewater or in the hands of those who would use them recreationally.
The Laramie County Sheriff’s Department recently announced a new program to allow residents to bring unused and unwanted prescription drugs to the department at 1910 Pioneer Ave. between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. for disposal.
There, the drugs will be tracked and incinerated.
Individuals can only drop off their own medications and must bring identification with them to do so.
The goal of the new program is to keep unused drugs out of medicine cabinets or trashcans, where they can be found by children or those who would use them recreationally.
“Law enforcement across the country is being inundated with prescription drug frauds, thefts and fatal drug overdoses,” Sheriff Danny Glick said in a news release. “Too many young adults are losing their lives to prescription drug ’cocktails.”"
Simply tossing the medication in the trash means recreational drug users can get hold of it, sheriff’s department spokesman Gerry Luce said.
“You would be surprised what lengths people will go to to obtain illegal substances sometimes,” Luce said.
The Laramie County Centralized Pharmacy at 2600 E. 18th St. also can dispose of medication properly. It also can re-distribute some of the medication that is brought in to those who have a prescription for it but can’t afford it. Anything that can’t be redistributed is burned.
If medication is disposed of at home, it is best to taker certain precautions, said Roxanne Homar, the state pharmacist, and Scot Schmidt, a pharmacist with Hoy’sp Hospital Pharmacy. Essentially, it is best to make sure the drugs are destroyed, sealed and concealed before they end up in the trash.
If a household has leftover pills, they should be left in the original bottles and only the name on the label should be blacked out.
Then the pills should be dissolved in water or vinegar, the lid taped shut with packing or duct tape, the bottle placed inside a non-transparent container and thrown in the garbage.
Liquid medication can be mixed with coffee grounds, kitty litter, salt, flour or other substances to make it inedible, or at least unappetizing.
Blister packs should be wrapped in duct tape and concealed before being put in the trash.
It’s important to keep these drugs out of the wrong hands, Luce said, whether that means keeping them out of medicine cabinets or out of trashcans where they are easily accessible.
What should you do with old meds?
To keep them out of the hands of those who would use them illegally, residents should dissolve or destroy the medication, as well as seal and conceal it before throwing it away. Or medication can be taken to the Laramie County Sheriff’s Department to be incinerated or to the Laramie County Centralized Pharmacy to donate it or have it destroyed.
What To Do With Leftover MedsOriginally from: http://www.nursinglink.monster.com/news/articles/13185-what-to-do-with-leftover-meds

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