Fwd: Disposing of Prescription Medications

September 30, 2008

Liz Lipski, PhD, CCN, CHN <DrLipski

Cyndi <cyndikrall

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 9:40 am

Disposing of Prescription Medications

Free Weekly Health Tip prepared for Cyndi

September 30th, 2008

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Your Tip:

Disposing of Prescription Medications

A friend of mine told me her story of clearing out the home of her recently deceased parents. She said, "I don't know what to do with all the prescription medications. If I dump them down the commode, they'll end up in the sewer. I doubt that water purification systems are set up to handle them. Is it better to put them into the trash?" We wondered what the millions of families faced with this decision every year do?

According to a CBS/Associated Press Probe titled Pharmaceuticals in Drinking Water,

"A vast array of pharmaceuticals - including antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones - have been fond in the drinking water supplies of at least 41 million Americans." In Philadelphia 56 pharmaceuticals or byproducts were found in the water and 63 were found in the city's watershed. In Southern California a portion of 18.5 million people were exposed to anti-epileptic and anti-anxiety medications in their drinking water. Three medications in Tucson, Arizona's drinking water. And the list goes on. Deep underground water near contaminant sources such as landfills and animals feed lots in 24 states contained pharmaceuticals. Adding insult to injury, putting chlorine in the water makes some pharmaceuticals more toxic.

Most water treatment plants don't yet test for and therefore don't treat the water for pharmaceutical drugs. Private septic systems are not set up to handle this very new "waste".

The very best thing to do with your old prescription medications is to recycle them. Due to the diligence of some brave pioneers who defied the law, 33 states now have programs that recycle drugs and distribute them to people who cannot afford to buy them. In Louisiana last year one charity pharmacy donated $2 million in recycled drugs. So before tossing out the medications you no longer need, find a program that will take your medications. If there isn't one in your state, send them to a state that has a program!

59% of people without health insurance and=2

0who have chronic illnesses either skip or just stop taking medications because they cannot afford them.

If you aren't going to take the time to recycle, follow the federal guidelines: Proper Disposal of Prescription Drugs

The federal web site "Proper Disposal of Prescription Drugs" recommends:

Â· Take unused, unneeded or expired prescription drugs out of their original containers and throw them into the trash.

Â· Mixing prescription drugs with an undesirable substance, such as used coffee grounds or kitty litter, and putting them in impermeable, nondescript containers such as empty cans or sealable bags, will further ensure the drugs are not diverted.

Â· Flush prescription drugs down the toilet only if the label or accompanying information specifically lists doing so. Full list included on web site. (Liz's comment: This list seems to be mainly narcotics. Do we really want narcotics in our drinking water? Do they break down more easily than other medications OR does the government just not want them taken by others since they are addictive?)

Â· Take advantage of local community take-back programs that allow the public to bring unused drugs to a central location for proper disposal.

Tip Provided By:

Dr. Liz Lipski has a PhD and is board certified in clinical nutrition. A 30-year practitioner, author, an

d the Director of Doctoral Studies at Hawthorn University. She is founder of Innovative Healing Inc., author of Digestive Wellness, Digestive Wellness for Children, and many other publications.