It happens to all of us. Whether the medication is an over-the-counter medication or a prescription that we simply don’t need any more, we all end up with medications that we need to get rid of from time to time. The medications may be for you, for your spouse, for you children, or for your pets. Either way, there’s a proper way to dispose of unused medications. And, unfortunately, if medicines are not disposed of properly, they can pose a threat for members of our community, for our pets and even for the wildlife in our area.
How do you dispose of medications properly? The Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant has an entire page dedicated to safely disposing of unwanted medicine. Among the suggestions offered are these:
- Never flush unused medications down a sink or toilet.
- Take advantage of take-back programs in your community.
- If no take-back program is available, place the medication in a sealable container mixed with cat litter or coffee grounds and dispose of them in the trash.
Please see the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant link for more information.
For veterinarians, the AVMA provides more information about the proper disposal of unwanted medication also.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I used to be a toilet flush offender until my pharmacist told me that they have a program that safely disposes of old meds.
Good for you that you made the change, Karen.