In 2017, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expressed concern that physicians were contributing to the opioid epidemic by over-prescribing the drugs. Recent evidence shows that doctors paid attention. In July, Blue Cross Blue Shield reported 2017 numbers showing fewer opioid prescriptions and an increase in new prescriptions meeting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s chronic pain prescription guidelines.
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Category: Medication Disposal
Unused Medication Disposal Articles
Pharmaceutical waste is a serious matter and requires proper disposal to avoid potential hazards. Unused and expired medications that are thrown or flushed away can leech into our water or food supply. Drugs sitting around the house could be found and misused by children or taken by people who might abuse them.
This collection of unused medication disposal articles provides information on safe ways to dispose of medications. These articles focus on take-back programs that make it easy to do the right thing.
Part 2: Incineration – Safe, Cost-Effective, and EPA-Recommended Drug Disposal
As Americans’ use of prescription medications increases – a 2017 study found that 55% of the population regularly takes a prescription drug – safe disposal of unused medication is becoming a more challenging and urgent issue. Educating the public about the risks of improper disposal and offering safe options can protect communities and the environment.
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Part 1: Drug Take-Back Programs – The Most Effective Disposal Solutions for Unused Medications
Proper disposal of unused pharmaceuticals protects the community by keeping drugs away from our children and pets, off our streets, and out of the hands of abusers. Safe disposal also reduces the chance of drugs entering the water supply.
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Safe Prescription Drug Disposal with Sharps’ TakeAway Medication Recovery Systems
Affordable, environmentally responsible solutions for unused, unwanted pharmaceuticals
Americans fill over 4 billion prescriptions each year, but up to 40% of those drugs go unused. It’s a definite challenge to safely dispose of 200 million pounds of unused medication each year. Many communities participate in semi-annual drug takeback days where their citizens can take their personal unused medications to a location for drop-off and proper disposal. However, people often need to dispose of medications more frequently. Storing unused medications for many months can increase the risk of those drugs getting into the wrong hands. Sharps Compliance developed the Takeaway Medication Recovery Systems to provide consumers with immediate-use safe, affordable, DEA-compliant pharmaceutical waste disposal solutions for unwanted and unused medications.
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INFOGRAPHIC: How Improper Disposal of Medical and Pharmaceutical Wastes Can Affect Health and Safety
Whether in the workplace or the home, the consequences of improper handling and disposal of medical and pharmaceutical wastes can be serious. The health and safety of healthcare providers, waste workers, and communities is at risk. Individual states and federal agencies including OSHA, DOT, USPS, DEA, and EPA regulate the handling, collection, transportation, and disposal of both pharmaceutical and medical wastes from businesses. Disposal guidelines and laws have also been put in place to provide safe disposal options for consumers.
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