How should unused and unwanted medication be disposed of? Do you flush it, put it in the garbage, or wash it down the drain to keep it out of the wrong hands? Sadly, depending on the chemical composition of the medicine, these sorts of inappropriate disposal can result in water system contamination. In turn, such water pollution puts at risk human health, marine habitats, and more.
These disposal techniques have previously been advised to avoid inadvertent child usage or to assist ward off opioid-seeking persons. Septic systems and wastewater treatment facilities, however, were not made to remove pharmaceuticals from water. In addition to our drinking water, chemicals related to pharmaceuticals have now been discovered in waterways across the country.
Please refer to the companion resource for more details on how to dispose of medications properly.
