My mom just died. What do I do with her medicines?
Dear Viki,
My mom just died. What do I do with her leftover medicines?
I am sorry for your loss. This is a great question because the answer has recently changed. In the past, most people flushed their old medicines down the toilet. This was done to prevent accidental poisonings of children and animals who may find medicines in the trash. But today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) no longer recommends this. Sewage treatment plants may not be able to clean all medicines out of the water. This may harm fish, wildlife or us.
Besides taking care of your mom’s medications, you may want to check to see if any of your own medicines should be discarded because they are too old or aren’t needed anymore. The bottle or container will have an expiration date on it. If the medicine doesn’t have an expiration date, unless you know you purchased it within the past year, you should dispose of it as I explain below. Medicines may lose their effectiveness over time, especially if they are in a warm, moist, bathroom medicine cabinet. In rare cases, taking expired medicines can become dangerous and life threatening.
To dispose of drugs according to the American Pharmacists Association:
1. Read the instructions on the medication for specific information regarding disposal.
2. Remove and destroy ALL identifying personal information (prescription label) from the medication container.
3. Take capsules and tablets and make them unusable by wetting, breaking or crushing them; then place them in a childproof container, sealed with tape and toss in the trash.
4. Mix prescription drugs with an undesirable substance such as used coffee grounds or kitty litter and put them in non-descript containers such as empty cans or sealable bags.
4. Empty liquids onto absorbent paper towels or rags and dispose with regular trash.
5. You can also check for approved state and local collection programs or with area hazardous waste facilities.
6. In certain places, you may be able to take your unused medications to your community pharmacy. Ask your local pharmacist what he recommends.
