Hanging on to Old Opioids? No Judgment—We Are Too.
We try, but we’re also human. Folks over here are just as guilty of breaking the Don’t Keep Your Old Meds rule, when we know all too well why they should be disposed of promptly once no longer needed.
In addition to the roles played by opioid manufacturers and prescribers in creating an opioid epidemic, many tragic outcomes tied to opioid use can be caused by other increasingly popular pain medications such as gabapentinoids (e.g. Lyrica). These types of medications are often prescribed to manage seizures, fibromyalgia, pain from spinal cord injury, specific types of nerve damage, and pain commonly associated with shingles.
Admittedly, getting rid of old medications is not the clearest process, and not every pharmacy even takes unused medications. So we asked the question, where do you dispose of old medication, and how can the process be made easier?
The FDA lists some environmentally-unfriendly options, such as flushing them, which is currently the safest option for 15 drugs (check the table halfway down the page), or mixing them (not crushing them) in with coffee grounds before tossing them in the garbage. It’s not great for Mother Earth, but the risk to your mother is likely higher.
The FDA lists several methods of drug disposal that are not environmentally friendly.
Ideally, we would like to see state legislatures require that all pharmacies become authorized collectors in order to operate. That would mean more residents could drop off old medications at their convenience, and the task wouldn’t throw a wrench in their already busy schedules. Here’s to hoping our policymakers catch up to the times, and make it easier for us all to say goodbye to our medicine cabinet clutter.
Maggie Gorini is the NWHN Policy Fellow.
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