It isn’t the first time TV has led the public astray. When you see a scene of drugs being flushed down the toilet, don’t get any ideas. When prescription or illegal drugs are flushed down the toilet, they enter the local water supply where they can pose a danger to the public. But with prescription abuse on the rise, how do you get rid of medications that are no longer wanted or needed while keeping them out of the hands of someone who might misuse them?
How to Dispose of Prescription Drugs
To begin with, remove pills from the original container. Pill bottles are easy to spot for anyone looking and if they stay in the bottle, they’ll remain usable. Mixing them in with other trash will contaminate them. To prevent an accidental overdose by kids or pets, mix the medication with cat litter or used coffee grinds and seal it all in a container or plastic bag. Many pharmacies will also accept unwanted medications for safe disposal.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) recently made it even easier to rid your medicine cabinet of unwanted pills, urging Americans to turn in their old and unused prescription drugs. It was part of an effort by the agency to stop a rise in prescription drug abuse. The drug take-back events took place at 4,000 sites across the country, providing individuals with the opportunity to drop off old medications anonymously so they could be safely incinerated.
The new event was a first step in curbing the growing trend of prescription drug experimentation and abuse among teens and young adults. It was about more than just getting pills out of medicine cabinets; the event was also about getting the word out about the dangers of misusing prescription meds.
According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health released earlier this month, as high as 17 percent of Americans have abused prescription drugs, while nearly 20 percent of 18-year-olds had abused prescription painkillers.
Oxycodone, hydrocodone, Valium, Xanax and stimulants like Ritalin and Adderall are all popular among those looking for a quick high.
For those who didn’t make it to one of the recent DEA events, there are other ways to safely dispose of unwanted prescription medications. The DEA recommends flushing pills only if the bottle says they're "flushable." Non-flushable pills can be disposed of in kitty litter or coffee grounds and then thrown in the trash.
Prescription Drug Rehab at The Canyon
If you or someone you love is in need of prescription drug rehab, call The Canyon at the toll-free number on our homepage. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about treatment, financing or insurance.
