Some people don’t realize that most medicines have expiration dates on them, which is when they stop working as well as they should. Once a prescription has expired, it’s best not to use it at all because the ingredients could change or break down over time. When some people think about disposing of old medicines, they usually think they need to throw them in the trash. However, this is not true at all! There are safer and better options for getting rid of it that you might not be aware of. This article will look at some other safe methods of disposing of your old medicine.
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Police Drug Collections
The first way you can safely dispose of old medicine is to see if your local law enforcement does a police drug collection so that you bring them your old prescription drugs. You can usually find out how by looking through the website of your local law enforcement agency or calling them directly. They will have someone at dedicated sights, and they’ll take away any expired medicines as well as any that you no longer need or use. This method is the safest way to dispose of old medicine because it prevents anyone else from taking them and using them for themselves, which could result in overdose or other complications. The only downside to this method is that some police departments only have a few days a year where they will do this.
Prescription Drug Take-Back Programs
Another way that you can safely dispose of old medicine is by taking part in prescription drug take-back programs that the DEA offers. This method is an excellent way for people to get rid of their old medicine because it’s all collected by the DEA and turned into non-usable substances. However, like the local drug collections, there usually are only a few of these events throughout the year, so it’s best to check with your local law enforcement agency for more information.
Check If You Can Flush Them
Another way to dispose of old medicine is by checking to see if you can flush them. Most drugs are safe just to be flushed down the toilet, ensuring that they are not being used by people who might abuse them. This is a very safe way to get rid of old medicine because it gets rid of them in an environmentally friendly manner, so they do not have any harmful effects on other living things or the environment. However, be sure to check the label and see if they are okay to be flushed. If it is unclear, ask your pharmacist to see if it is a safe option.
Pay-For Disposal
Finally, you can ensure that your old medicine is disposed of safely by paying for its disposal. This method involves paying the pharmacy to dispose of them if they cannot do it themselves. Usually, this will cost a flat fee regardless of the quantity or amount, but it’s better than nothing. This is a great way to ensure that your old medicine is disposed of safely and properly because the pharmacy will then put it into a container or bag that law enforcement can pick up and dispose of properly.
Conclusion
So now that you know the many different ways to dispose of old medicine safely, you can get rid of your old prescriptions properly. Always check with your pharmacist if you are unsure how to get rid of your old medicine properly. Never throw them away in the trash because it could result in accidental ingestion by someone else who may abuse them. Also, be sure to check if your local law enforcement or DEA offers a drop-off box or prescription drug take-back program that you can use instead. This ensures that they are out of the public’s hands and disposed of efficiently.
