WHAT ARE UNWANTED MEDICATIONS?
Unwanted medications are medications that are outdated or no longer
needed. People often inherit prescription or over-the-counter
drugs when a relative or friend has passed away.
WHAT ARE CONTROLLED and NON-CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES?
Unwanted medications can include CONTROLLED and
NON-CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES.
CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES are drugs or chemicals
whose manufacture, possession and use are regulated by the Controlled
Substances Act which is enforced the Drug Enforcement Administration.
CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES may include illegal drugs
or prescription medications such as pain killers and tranquilizers.
NON-CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES include over-the-counter
drugs as well as some prescriptions that are not regulated by
the Controlled Substances Act.
To determine if you have a CONTROLLED or NON-CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, ask your doctor or pharmacist or call the National Poison Hotline at 1-800-222-1222.
WHY IS IMPROPER DISPOSAL OF UNWANTED MEDICATIONS DANGEROUS?
Improper disposal of unwanted medications can result in serious
harm to humans, animals, and the environment. Proper drug disposal
is an emerging issue in the environmental arena. All medications
applied or ingested may be excreted or washed into sewage systems
and discharged to the environment. The risks posed to humans by
long-term consumption of minute quantities of medications in drinking
water, as well as the risks to the environment by continual exposure
are unknown. Flushing unwanted medications down the toilet or
throwing them in the garbage just adds to the problem.
MEDICATIONS IN OUR WASTEWATER
In 2002 the United States Geological Survey (USGS) published the
results of a two-year study that included nationwide sampling
and analysis of streams for wastewater contaminants including
prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, and hormones. The
study results indicated that many wastewater contaminants were
present at detectable quantities in rivers across the nation.
While the concentrations detected in the study were low, and rarely
exceeded drinking water guidelines or aquatic life criteria, the
USGS pointed out that standards havent been set for many compounds
because we dont yet know enough about them or their effect on
human or environmental health.
Donate: Some unwanted medications can be donated
to the
FREE CLINIC OF SW WASHINGTON.
HOW CAN I SAFELY DISPOSE OF UNWANTED MEDICATIONS?
Prior to transporting your unwanted medications, be sure that:
they are in the original container with the name of the medicine
visible
they are in a container that is not leaking and is capable of
being be sealed
all patient information has either been removed or obscured
WHERE CAN I SAFELY DISPOSE OF UNWANTED NON-CONTROLLED
SUBSTANCES?
Return unwanted NON-CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES to Participating
Pharmacies Non-Controlled Substances Take Back List. You may
also contact Clark County Solid Waste at (360) 397 6118 ext. 4352
to ask about a specific pharmacy or have a copy of the list mailed
to you.
Return unwanted NON-CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES to your physician.
Ask your physician if he/she will take your unwanted medications
for safe disposal.
Take them to a household hazardous waste collection facility
or collection event.
CENTRAL
TRANSFER AND RECYCLING CENTER
WEST VAN
MATERIALS RECOVERY CENTER
PHILIP SERVICES
CORPORATION
MOBILE
COLLECTION EVENTS
WHERE CAN I SAFELY DISPOSE OF UNWANTED CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES?
Take them to a participating Sheriff or Police Departments
listed below:
BATTLE GROUND POLICE
DEPARTMENT
CAMAS POLICE DEPARTMENT
CLARK COUNTY SHERIFF'S
OFFICE WEST PRECINCT
CLARK COUNTY SHERIFF'S
OFFICE CENTRAL PRECINCT
CLARK COUNTY SHERIFF'S
HEADQUARTERS
LA CENTER POLICE DEPARTMENT
RIDGEFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT
WASHOUGAL POLICE DEPARTMENT
Remember:
Always call before transporting unwanted medications. Not all
medications can be taken to every disposal site. Some medications
must be taken to special sites for proper disposal.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist or call the National Poison Hotline
at 1-800-222-1222 to find out if your unwanted medications are
controlled or non-controlled substances.
