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Drug Disposal: Current Recommendations and Environmental Concerns
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| Author:
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UPLOADED BY-ADMIN, OSAMAH I. AWAD, GREGORY E. TRAVERS, SHAKER A. MOUSA
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| Abstract:
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As people take more and more medications to treat their ailments, it is inevitable that supplies of unused or expired
medications will accumulate. A problem arises, however, when it is time to dispose of these medications, because currently
there are no concrete guidelines concerning this issue. Most people worldwide continue to dispose of their medications in
the household garbage or by flushing them down the sink or toilet. This raises issues of environmental contamination from
drugs either leaching from landfills or becoming part of the wastewater effluent by means of flushing. While the effects of
such drugs on the environment are still relatively unknown, measures can be taken to help prevent their introduction entirely.
Although the FDA has released recommendations concerning medication disposal, many patients are still unaware of these
guidelines. Since current laws in the United States prevent the return of medications to the pharmacy, it is important for
people to know the correct way to dispose of them. Programs are in development that may make it easier for people to dispose
of unwanted medications. Unused medicine opens up a new avenue for deference and abuse of drugs, especially controlled
substances. In the end, education may be the key in helping to control the disposal of unused and expired medications.
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| Keyword:
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Drug disposal, Controlled substances, Safety, Regulation, Environmental hazard, Guidelines
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| DOI:
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| Download:
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