How to Dispose of Prescription Drugs
Parents and caregivers are the first line of defense in addressing the troubling trend of prescription and over-the-counter drug abuse. Take an
inventory in your house and make sure you follow these guidelines for proper drug disposal:
- Take unused, unneeded, or expired prescription drugs out of their original containers and throw them in the trash.
- Mix prescription drugs with an undesirable substance, such as used coffee grounds or kitty litter, and put them in containers, such as
empty cans or sealable bags, to make sure the drugs aren't found and abused by someone else.
- Flush prescription drugs down the toilet only if the label specifically tells you to.
- Take advantage of community pharmaceutical take-back programs that allow the public to bring unused drugs to a central location
for proper disposal. Some communities have pharmaceutical take-back programs or community solid-waste programs that allow the public to bring
unused drugs to a central location for proper disposal. Where these exist, they are a good way to dispose of unused pharmaceuticals.
Next: Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Prescription Drugs
