# Disposing of old drugs. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 30, 2007, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disposing-of-old-drugs/410044 "2007-06-30T16:09:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2007, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disposing-of-old-drugs/410044/21 "2007-07-01T21:29:24Z")
[QUOTE=Ms. Pumpkin] If the pharmacy doesn’t have a system already in place for doing that(and I’ve never heard of one that does), it would cause major issues with their inventory controls. They send back 4 units of, say, oxycontin, and their inventory system will assume they now have 4 fewer units. This will screw up their ordering(always thinking they have 4 fewer than they do), and more importantly, it will screw with any audits the company(or the government!) does on their stock. [/QUOTE] It won’t screw up any inventory- they will throw the bad meds into a disposal unit, not count it in as a dispensible item. ---
**Author:** ![Ms.Pumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a87d85/32.png) [@Ms.Pumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms.Pumpkin)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disposing-of-old-drugs/410044/22 "2007-07-02T01:25:16Z")
[QUOTE=Dewey Finn] I’m not expecting the pharmacy to return the medications to the pharmaceutical company, but instead to collect them for proper disposal. [/QUOTE] [QUOTE=BoBettie] It won’t screw up any inventory- they will throw the bad meds into a disposal unit, not count it in as a dispensible item. [/QUOTE] I understand what you mean, that’s what I meant when I said, “unless they have a sytem already in place”. But as to my knowledge, pharmacies just can’t dispose of drugs that way. Everything is just too carefully controlled and monitored. I agree that it is a fine idea, though. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disposing-of-old-drugs/410044/23 "2007-07-02T01:33:31Z")
I’ll likeky know more tomorrow, after I contact our hazardous waste folks and check with a pharmacy or two. I just can’t believe you’re expected to toss prescription drugs, some dangerous, into the trash. Am I the only one who has an amatuer gleaner who regularly inspects my trash? ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disposing-of-old-drugs/410044/24 "2007-07-02T07:08:02Z")
It may depend on the type of drugs, of course. In the hospice program for which Deb works, patients are given an emergency kit that includes various pain meds and breathing aids–no antibiotics or hormones. When a patient dies, the DEA wants the family to flush the meds, immediately, since they do not want the pain-killers making it into the underground market. (I’ve asked about returning the unused meds to a pharmacy rather than throwing them out, but apparently the authorities are concerned that monitoring and controlling the drugs that went out and returned presents too much of an opportunity to play fast and loose with the inventory, so it is the responsibility of the nurse who is called to pronounce the death to flush the meds before she leaves the house.) ---
**Author:** ![HiOpal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b38774/32.png) [@HiOpal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HiOpal)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disposing-of-old-drugs/410044/25 "2007-07-02T09:07:45Z")
[QUOTE=mangeorge] The pharmacy’s at the hospital. Kaiser Hospital. [/QUOTE] Just take the drugs to the counter. Say you want to dispose of the drugs and they will put them in a “destroy” bin in the back where they will destroy them. Also, if you have any needles of any kind, they don’t want them. Kaiser advises the patients to cut the top of a milk bottle off put the needles in there and then tape it up and throw out with the trash. (It’s a weird policy because I think that junkies can untape the milk bottle and use the needles, but that’s Kaiser’s policy) ---
**Author:** ![HiOpal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b38774/32.png) [@HiOpal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HiOpal)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disposing-of-old-drugs/410044/26 "2007-07-02T09:12:57Z")
Sorry for the double post but I just wanted to add that Kaiser WILL not return your old meds or any new meds back to their stock. Once the Rx leaves the counter it’s considered yours and they don’t know if it’s been tampered with if it comes back. If and when a pharmacist makes a judgement about taking a med back (they usually don’t take meds back) they automatically chuck it in the destroy bin. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2007, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disposing-of-old-drugs/410044/27 "2007-07-05T22:48:57Z")
Here’s the reply I got today from the waste people here in Berkeley: > [@](#): > > Geroge, > > Thanks for seeking a safe way of disposing of expired medicines. Such items should not go in the waste container. > > Two places to try: > > ``` > Pharmica, Berkeley, 527-8929 > Oakland Hazardous Waste Facility, 800-606-6606 (call ahead for locations and hours). > > ``` > > Thanks for checking. I called both. The pharmacy (actual name, Pharmaca) will happily take non-narcotic drugs, and the hazardous waste facility will take everything, but do call. It’s a DEA thing. I got positive feedback from both. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2007, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disposing-of-old-drugs/410044/28 "2007-07-05T23:36:12Z")
Here’s a [PDF](http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/HazardousWaste/upload/Pharm_Waste_Contacts.pdf) that looks to be as close to a master list for Northern California as we’ll ever get. That list is supposed to be all of California, so it’s looking like Northern California is leading this parade for now. From the California Department of Toxic Substances Control: > [@](#): > > For most of us, we have been trained to get rid of old or unwanted drugs by flushing them down the toilet. This practice evolved from our desire to keep potentially dangerous drugs out of the hands of others, especially children. However, recent research is showing that this may be the least environmentally friendly method of disposing of old or unwanted drugs. The proper disposal practice may vary depending on county you live in or the wastewater agency that serves your region. Before disposing of old or unwanted drugs, consult your local wastewater agency or household hazardous waste center on the proper disposal practice for your area At the moment, it looks like the idea of disposing of unused medications by any methods other than flushing or the trash is a rather new one that’s not taken hold yet on any sort of wide scale. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2007, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disposing-of-old-drugs/410044/29 "2007-07-06T06:46:41Z")
Here in Minneapolis, MN (Hennepin County), the online site “What do I do with…” says medicines should NOT be disposed of in the trash, the recycling, or flushed, but should be brought to the nearest pharmacy or medical center for disposal with their bio-hazard waste. It implies that every such location would have to take them for disposal. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disposing-of-old-drugs/410044.md?page=1)