Got Drugs? Old Ones, I Mean?

Organizing bathrooms means you usually have to organize medications. I have seen and organized many drugs throughout the years in clients' homes (most legal, and I pretended not to see any illegal ones...), and there is a huge problem of how to dispose of them safely when no longer needed.

I wanted to draw your attention to the DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) National Take-Back Initiative. United States readers can take their unused drugs for safe disposal this Saturday, September 25th to various drop-off locations. Read here about the event and search there for a collection location near you.

Please note they are taking only pills, not liquids. Here are the guidelines from the DEA site:

• The program is anonymous.
• Prescription and over the counter solid dosage medications, i.e. tablets and capsules accepted.
• Intra-venous solutions, injectables, and needles will not be accepted.
• Illicit substances such as marijuana or methamphetamine are not a part of this initiative.

The advice I have heard is that you're not supposed to flush drugs down the toilet, as it pollutes our water supply and can't always be filtered out. They say you can liquefy pills by shaking them up with a little water and putting the bottle in the trash. They also say if you have liquids you can solidify them with cat litter or salt and then put them in the trash.

But it's much safer to dispose of these drugs, particularly controlled-substance drugs, with a program like this one. Check also with your local pharmacy for information on more frequent collections in your area-- some pharmacies do this on a regular basis.

More medication organizing tips:

• Make sure you look at expiration dates-- my chemist friend says they really do mean what they say and you should get new ones when they expire.
• Keep paper handy to write down a list of any medications you need to replace, and don't forget ancillary items like first aid supplies that might also be required.
• Destroy prescription labels before discarding so they can't be used for unintended refills by someone else (and to protect your privacy).
• Use "S-M-T-W-T-F-S" pill sorters to organize the medications and supplements you take on a regular basis, instead of dealing them all out each day.
• Use small bins, even drawer dividers work well, for grouping each family member's own medications and supplements on a shelf. 

Please be responsible with your drugs! :) Do you have any medication organizing tips or stories? Share in the comments!

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Comments

[Jill]

So many people store meds in the bathroom, where moisture can compromise their potency/effectiveness.

I have a clear plastic shoe keeper on the inside of my linen closet door, and all OTC's are relegated to the highest pockets, away from the reach of visiting grandchildren (who probably won't open the closet door, anyway).

When the grandkids do visit, I make sure to remove my daily prescription bottle from my nightstand and put it in one of the closet pockets, too.

[Carol Johnson]

Does this mean we are all using and drinking toilet water? I mean whats worse feces or flushing pills down the toilet? I dont get it. Does anyone know the answer because I have always up until now flushed my left over pills down the toilet!

[Lorie Marrero]

Carol-- great question! Here is a link from the California State Board of Pharmacy about this: http://www.pharmacy.ca.gov/publications/dont_flush_meds.pdf

- Lorie

[Beth Garland]

Carol - to answer your original question - yes we are drinking toilet water. All our water is cycled back through the environment in some way or another. I googled cycle of sewage and came up with many sites, but you could start with this one: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sewage_treatment - Pretty interesting, huh?