- According to USA Today, a hospital in Minnesota pours 50 gallons of unused drugs into the local sewer system because more proper disposal would cost $25,000 or more. Also, anyone who handles narcotics, other than the user, must be certified as a police officer or registered as a handler by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). And though some experts would like to expand the range of professionals who can dispose of narcotics, "the DEA has not been very cooperative...in that regard," according to Catherine Zimmer, a waste consultant at the University of Minnesota.
- Many states are taking very different but equally successful paths in addressing the problem of disposing narcotics. In Louisiana, for instance, many nursing homes are able to donate the medications to charity organizations. Washington has expanded its list of pharmaceuticals classified as hazardous waste so legislators have more freedom to dictate safer disposal rules.
- The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, a federal law that controls disposal of solid and hazardous wastes, does not address medications used in a household. The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) encourages government entities to bear the cost of education and study regarding safe disposal of medications. APhA started the SMARxT Disposal Program, which is a national campaign to increase consumer awareness about drug-disposal options.
- In 2007, the Office on National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), which is located at the White House, established several guidelines for the disposal of unused drugs, including narcotics. Though the group suggests disposing of many drugs by mixing them with an "undesirable" substance such as coffee grounds or cat litter and placing the mixture in nonpermeable containers, many narcotic painkillers are on the ONDCP list of medications that should be flushed down the toilet.
Cost Concerns
State Participation
American Pharmacists Association
White House Policy
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