Following President Trump’s declaration of a nationwide public health emergency to address the opioid crisis in 2017, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) facilitated its 14th Prescription Drug Take Back Day. The DEA’s semiannual events are intended to provide opportunities for people to remove unused opioids and other prescription drugs from their homes so they don’t end up in the hands of others.1
With the majority of misused drugs obtained from friends and family, programs like these are aimed at stopping abuse before it starts.1 They’re all part of ongoing efforts across government agencies, as well as drug and medical associations, to find solutions for the national crisis.
Two Disposal Options for Unused Prescription Drugs
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has historically recommended two ways for disposing of unused prescription drugs: 1) flushing them down the toilet or 2) disposing of them in household trash. While most unused drugs can be thrown in the trash, certain drugs, like fentanyl, must be flushed due to their harmful contents.2
If you do dispose of medications in the trash, the FDA provides a few specific guidelines for removing drugs this way:
- Mix the drugs with an undesirable substance, such as coffee grounds or kitty litter, to make them less appealing to children or pets and to hide them from a potential opioid user.
- Seal the mixture in a bag or container to prevent it from spilling or leaking.
- Throw the container in the garbage.
- Scratch out all personal information on the containers and throw away the packaging.2
Inhaler products must also be disposed of carefully, as they may be dangerous if punctured or thrown into a fire. People who use these products should contact their local trash and recycling facility and follow local laws for disposing of them.2
The Rise of Prescription Drug Take Back Programs
Following warnings from the FDA and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that traditional methods for disposing of unused prescription drugs posed potential safety and health hazards, Drug Take Back Days provided an alternative avenue.1 During these events, the DEA sets up collection sites across the country for people to drop off their unused medications. Drugs collected at these sites are typically incinerated through licensed medical waste collectors, which is the most effective way to destroy active pharmaceutical ingredients.3
During the most recent Drug Take Back Day, the DEA worked with more than 4,200 local and tribal law enforcement partners to collect more than 456 tons of unused drugs at more than 5,300 collection sites around the country. In total, 4,508 tons of prescription drugs have been collected since the program began in 2010.1
Regulating Prescription Drug Take Back Days
While they’re not standardized across states, Drug Take Back Days have to be closely regulated to ensure deposited drugs are not diverted. Under the federal Controlled Substances Act, the DEA requires substances to be turned into law enforcement officials who can closely monitor the collection boxes.3
Additionally, it’s recommended to have as few individuals involved in the collection process as possible so the medications can be disposed of properly. In California, for example, people can deposit drugs in one-way bins with two-key systems and a licensed medical waste hauler and pharmacist present as witnesses.3
The ultimate goal with these rules and regulations is to prevent controlled substances from re-entering the supply chain, either legally or illegally, which would be in direct opposition to the program goals.
Next Steps
It’s important to think twice before casually tossing out a half-empty medication bottle, especially if it contains prescription painkillers or other addictive pills. The introduction of Drug Take Back Days allows people to safely remove unused or expired pills so they can play an active role in preventing opioid addiction in their homes.
By Taylor Davis
Sources:
1 “Drug Enforcement Administration Collects Record Number of Unused Pills as Part of Its 14th Prescription Drug Take Back Day.” The United States Department of Justice, November 7, 2017.
2 “Where and How to Dispose of Unused Medicines.” US Food and Drug Administration, October 25, 2017.
3 “Drugs in the Environment: Do Pharmaceutical Take-Back Programs Make a Difference.” Environmental Health Perspectives, May 2010.
