When we flush medications down drains or send them to landfills, they make their way into rivers and even drinking water. Proper disposal is just what the doctor ordered, and the benefits are numerous. For starters, more than 80% of rivers recently sampled tested positive for medications like antibiotics, hormones, and antidepressants. In addition, trace amounts of pharmaceuticals end up in our water because most treatment plants aren’t designed to filter them out. Taking your unused medications to a local pharmacy is a simple solution. Next time you’re picking up a prescription, ask your pharmacist if they participate in The The Starfish Project which takes donations of certain meds by mail and distributes them to people in Africa. Or they may participate in programs that will take your drugs and redistribute them to people who can’t afford them here in the United States. If your local pharmacy is not a good redistribution option, ask if they participate in safe drug disposal programs. Or, consider checking with your local Department of Health or Board of Pharmacy. They may be able to put you in contact with drug repository programs. If you’re inspired to find ways to “recycle” medications, check out Earth911. Not only does it provide information on safe disposal of pharmaceuticals, but an incredible array of other items as well.
Valued Member
says:
Lots (probably most) of those drugs introduced into waterways via toilets were not poured from bottles.