## 💊 Got Leftover Meds? Don’t Flush Them! 💊
We’ve all been there: a prescription finished, a bottle of pills gathering dust in the cabinet. But before you toss those meds in the trash (or even worse, the toilet!), hold up! Unused medications can pose serious risks to your health and the environment.
Luckily, UVA Health’s Blue Ridge Poison Center and Pharmacy are here to help! They’ve got the lowdown on safe and responsible medication disposal, making sure your leftover meds don’t become a hidden danger. 🔥 Keep reading to learn how to protect yourself and your community. 🔥
Drug Take-Back: UVA Health’s Convenient Solution
As part of National Poisoning Prevention Week, UVA Health is emphasizing the importance of safe medication disposal. With more than 62% of all poison exposure cases nationwide involving medicines, the Blue Ridge Poison Center and Pharmacy are sharing the safest approaches to medication storage and disposal.
UVA Health offers secure take-back receptacles at eight of its pharmacy locations across Central Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley. These receptacles provide a convenient solution for community members to safely and securely dispose of unwanted or expired medications.
A drawer at the top of the receptacle is large enough to hold most medication bottles. Once the drawer closes, it drops the medications into a secure storage box, which is inaccessible to everyone but pharmacy staff.
The receptacles only accept prescription and over-the-counter medications. This makes it easy for individuals to dispose of their unused or expired medications without having to worry about the safety of their loved ones.
“We’re pleased to provide several convenient options for community members to safely and securely dispose of unwanted or expired medications,” said Justin Vesser, ambulatory pharmacy director at UVA Health.
- Eight pharmacy locations across Central Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley offer secure take-back receptacles.
- The receptacles accept prescription and over-the-counter medications.
- The secure storage box is inaccessible to everyone but pharmacy staff.
FDA-Approved Home Disposal: A Step-by-Step Guide
For people unable to access a drug take-back receptacle, the Blue Ridge Poison Center recommends following the guidelines from the federal Food and Drug Administration.
Mix with Something Unpleasant
The FDA recommends mixing the medication with something unpleasant, such as coffee grounds or kitty litter. This makes it less likely that someone will intentionally ingest the medication.
Place in a Sealed Plastic Bag or Other Container
Once the medication has been mixed with the unpleasant substance, place it in a sealed plastic bag or other container. This will help to prevent the medication from being easily accessed.
Throw the Container Out with the Household Trash
Finally, throw the container out with the household trash. Make sure to scratch out any label information on prescription bottles before throwing them away.
- Mix the medication with something unpleasant, such as coffee grounds or kitty litter.
- Place the mixture in a sealed plastic bag or other container.
- Throw the container out with the household trash.
Beyond the Basics: Addressing Specific Medication Types
While the above steps provide a general guide for disposing of medications, there are certain types of medications that require special handling.
Flammable Medications
Flammable medications, such as inhalers and aerosol inhalers, should be disposed of in a sealed container filled with cat litter or another non-flammable substance.
Needles and Syringes
Needles and syringes should be disposed of in a sharps container, which is a special container designed for disposing of sharp objects.
- Flammable medications should be disposed of in a sealed container filled with cat litter or another non-flammable substance.
- Needles and syringes should be disposed of in a sharps container.
Beyond Disposal: Prevention Strategies for a Safer Home
Label Reading: Your First Line of Defense
One of the most important steps in preventing medication-related poisoning is reading labels carefully. This includes reading the label before giving or taking any medication, and making sure to follow the instructions carefully.
Medication labels provide critical information about the medication, including its name, dosage, and any potential side effects. By reading the label carefully, individuals can avoid taking the wrong medication or taking too much of a medication.
- Read the label before giving or taking any medication.
- Follow the instructions carefully.
- Regularly review your medicine cabinet.
- Check for expired or unused medications.
- Dispose of expired or unused medications properly.
- Accidental ingestion of medication.
- Overdose on any medication.
- Swallowing anything that is not food or medicine.
Medication Safety Check-Ups: Regularly Reviewing Your Medicine Cabinet
Another important step in preventing medication-related poisoning is regularly reviewing your medicine cabinet. This includes checking for expired or unused medications, and disposing of them properly.
Regularly reviewing your medicine cabinet can help to prevent medication-related poisoning by ensuring that only safe and effective medications are available. It can also help to prevent medication misuse by ensuring that medications are not shared or stored improperly.
Calling for Help: Knowing When to Contact the Poison Center
Finally, knowing when to contact the poison center is critical in preventing medication-related poisoning. The poison center is available 24/7 to provide free, confidential, and expert advice on medication-related emergencies.
Some examples of when to contact the poison center include:
By knowing when to contact the poison center, individuals can receive the help they need quickly and effectively, reducing the risk of medication-related poisoning.
“If someone accidentally takes the wrong medicine, swallows anything that is not food or medicine, or overdoses on any medicine, call the poison center right away at 800.222.1222 for free, confidential, expert advice,” said Kristin Wenger, the poison center’s education coordinator.
Conclusion
Proper medication disposal isn’t just about decluttering your medicine cabinet; it’s about safeguarding our environment and communities. UVA Health’s Blue Ridge Poison Center and Pharmacy have provided us with invaluable guidance on how to safely handle unused and expired medications, emphasizing the dangers of flushing them down the drain or tossing them in the trash. By understanding the risks these practices pose to our water systems and the potential for misuse or accidental ingestion, we can make informed choices that protect our health and the planet. The future of medication disposal hinges on widespread awareness and adoption of these safe practices. As our reliance on pharmaceuticals grows, so does the responsibility to manage them responsibly. By taking the time to properly dispose of unused medications, we contribute to a healthier environment and a safer future for ourselves and generations to come. Let’s make the conscious effort to ensure that the medications we no longer need don’t become a hidden danger. Every small act of responsibility ripples out, creating a wave of positive change.