“Got Drugs?”: How to dispose of unwanted or expired prescription drugs.

So often in homecare we identify expired or discontinued medications, and sometimes these medications have abuse potential. What to do with them can present a dilemma, particularly if you are concerned about the potential for diversion of your patient’s controlled substances.

The federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has scheduled the second National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 30, 2011, from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. The first event in September was an overwhelming success: more than 121 tons of pills were turned in on this first National Take Back Day, removing potentially dangerous prescription drugs-particularly controlled substances-from consumers’ homes.

There’s an important public safety and public health issue behind this initiative: More than seven million Americans currently abuse prescription drugs, according to the 2009 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health.  And the Partnership for a Drug Free America estimates that approximately 2,500 teens use prescription drugs to get high for the first time each day. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including the home medicine cabinet.

The DEA is working in conjunction with state and local law enforcement agencies to provide venues for persons who want to dispose of  expired or unneeded prescription drugs.  The website provides this link to find a nearby collection site. In my zip code, all nearby sites were at police stations-raising a question in my mind about how comfortable people would feel about going to these venues. However, in checking other zip codes-such as my hometown of Harrisburg, Pa- collection sites are at community and business centers under law enforcement supervision.

I looked in our bathrooms, and guess what I found: some expired acetaminophen with codeine from dental surgery over two years ago! Guess we’ll be part of the Take Back crowd at West Hollywood sheriff’s station at the end of the month. Let me know if you or your patients participate, too. Encourage disposal of all expired or no longer needed drugs-not just controls, to make the home safe.

Dennee Frey, CHAMP Pharmacy Expert