Dispose of Unused Medications on Drug Take Back Day
It’s not just old prescriptions sitting in your medicine cabinet that could be misused.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning of a dangerous social media trend called the “Benadryl Challenge,” in which teenagers are overconsuming the common over-the-counter allergy medication Benadryl and posting videos to TikTok. Abuse of Benadryl can lead to serious heart problems, seizures, coma or even death.
It’s the latest example of the hidden dangers of keeping both over-the-counter and prescription medications in the home without the proper safeguards or protections. The FDA recommends storing both over-the-counter and prescription medications up and away in a locked cabinet or container to keep them from being abused or misused.
Disposing of old prescriptions and unused medications is also an important step to minimize potential abuse. However, flushing them down the drain or the toilet is not the way to go. Since medicine doesn’t lose potency just because it’s expired, flushing it away doesn’t mean it’s gone. Research has linked water contamination via prescription disposal with abnormalities in aquatic species like fish. When medicines are flushed or thrown in the garbage, they also can get into local waters.
Aside from environmental reasons, removing prescription drugs from your medicine cabinet also helps keep them out of the hands of your loved ones. Consider some of these statistics:
- According to the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 9.9 million Americans misused controlled prescription drugs. And many people are getting their pills through friends or relatives, often by raiding the family medicine cabinet.
- Aside from alcohol, marijuana and tobacco cigarettes, prescription and over-the-counter drugs are the most commonly abused substances by Americans 14 and older.
- Studies have shown that many people who inject heroin reported abusing prescription opioids before starting to use heroin.
- In 2013, a study found that the number of children being accidentally poisoned by adult prescriptions was on the rise.
These very serious numbers prompted the federal Drug Enforcement Agency to create National Prescription Drug Take Back Day in 2010. The idea: Offer a safe and anonymous way for people to get rid of expired or unwanted medications. The program has led to the collection of more than 12.7 million pounds of prescription drugs nationally since its start – that’s about 6,300 tons of pills.
The next National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020. All you need to do is take your unused or expired prescriptions to one of the designated drop-off locations near you.
As the state’s largest health insurers, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network are committed to improving the value and quality of life in communities across Michigan. As a part of this commitment, BCBSM and BCN have supported the DEA’s Drug Take Back Day since 2011.
Looking for more information on how to safely dispose of your prescriptions? You may also like these posts:
- Tips for Prescription Safety, Storage and Disposal
- Dental Prescriptions and the Dangers of Teen Drug Abuse
- The Dangers of Sharing Medicine
Photo credit: flattop341
Name the studies…..just saying a study was done doesn’t cut it. How many people were involved in these studies, for example? Where? When?
Hi Alta, Thanks for reaching out. We’ve linked to all of the research and studies cited in this post. We encourage you to explore this article for more details about the study itself here: https://health.usnews.com/health-news/news/articles/2013/06/03/more-kids-being-poisoned-by-prescription-drugs-study Thanks, Alex
While this is a good idea the issue is not just opiates are dangerous but all prescription drugs are. Stop attacking opiates like it is the only drug people can have problem with. Also adults who have children living in there home no matter what there age should keep their prescription under lock and key. While those who abuse heroin may have started by trying prescription opiates does not mean a doctor prescribed them to that child. I fact most stole them from family member or other people homes. Also there need to be more attention with drinking alcohol with prescription medication especially, opiates, benzo and barbiturates. 90% of those who die from opiates have at least one other drug in there system which can be anything from alcohol, meth, LSD, xanax, cocaine and so on. Instead it seem like instead of doing pratical thing to help our children not get into this stuff we blame chronic pain patients who suffer from severe pain and need opiates long term to have any kind of reasonable life.
This all sounds good for people who consciously want to dispose of these harmful drugs. But, there are people who have no transportation to get to these disposable sites. Furthermore, medicine costs A LOT of money that people don’t have hence the reason for “stockpiling”. I agree drugs are and have been abused and have been sold on the streets By teens and have caused deaths. On the other hand, some people can’t afford Or are unable to go to the Dr. be re-examined and given another prescription that may or may not work as well as the original one. Then they have to go to the pharmacy, wait sometimes up to 2 hrs. to get the prescription filled. So keeping the old medicine is more convenient, cheaper and easier than going to a doctor and sometimes having to pay a co-pay too! Then ANOTHER cost at the pharmacy. So, throwing it away could be dumb and not cost effective for that person. It’s also dumb to “self-medicate” or having drugs available for young teens to have access to as well which could kill them. I don’t have the answer. I understand the reason & efforts made with this project, but it won’t be convincing enough for financially challenged people to discard their meds.
YOUR DESIGNATED DROP-OFF LOCATIONS LINK IS NOT WORKING
Hi Shalu, thanks for reaching out. Our link appears to be working now if you would like to find a designated drop-off location in your area. You can also call 1-800-882-9539 for more information. Thanks, Catia
I agree in principle. But, I am concerned with all the drugs (even insulin) that I am forced to waste at work because it is too difficult with current laws to get it to people who need it. If anyone reading this knows how I can start changing this, please post.
Why is there no drop off site in Saginaw – City or Twp??
Hi Elaine, great question! There is a Meijer store on Tittabawassee road that is able to take your old and unused medications all year long. You can find more information on the Meijer drug take back option here: https://www.mibluesperspectives.com/2019/04/19/meijer-offers-secure-drug-take-back-option-at-all-stores/