The State of Medicine Recycling
The Symptoms
Americans take more prescription drugs than ever before. In 2005, over 3.6 billion prescriptions were filled—a 71 percent increase from 1994, even though our population only grew nine percent during that time. Also as of ‘05, Americans were prescribed an average of 12.4 prescriptions per person. To top it off, people are also less likely to take their medication properly when they have more than three prescriptions.
However, this does not mean that every capsule is consumed. Many keep unused drugs in their medicine cabinets, past their expiration dates, while others flush extra pharmaceuticals down the drain.
Our water supplies are tainted with everything from anti-histamines to hormones. With thousands of pills being washed down the drain or landfilled, it’s no surprise that pharmaceuticals have been detected in surface water, ground water and drinking water. In fact, at least 41 million people in the U.S. consume water contaminated with prescription drugs, since water treatment facilities currently cannot remove all these impurities from the water supply.
On the flip-side of this large amount of consumption and waste are the millions of people who do not have access to prescription medication, due to lack of insurance or funds. Medication can be cost-prohibitive: some treatments can cost upwards of $30 per pill. People who cannot routinely afford medication either completely do without, skip doses, or fail to refill medication prescribed for chronic medical conditions.
The Diagnosis
What if we could take-back these waste medicines, therefore preventing them from gathering dust in the bathroom and entering our water supply, subsequently providing a way for cost-prohibitive medications to reach the uninsured and those who can’t afford them? Some states are already giving it a try.
The Rx
Since 2000, At least 37 states enacted programs for drug recycling or reclamation. Six of these states, Colorado, Florida, Kentucky, Minnesota, Nebraska and Wisconsin, focus on cancer-related prescription drugs, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL).
The NCSL notes that most state programs allow the return of prescription drugs in single use or sealed packaging from state programs, nursing homes and other medical facilities. While each state varies, there are some commonalities between their policies:
- All donated drugs must not be expired and must have a verified future expiration date.
- Controlled substances, defined by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), are usually excluded and prohibited.
- A state-licensed pharmacist or pharmacy to be part of the verification and distribution process.
- Each patient who is to receive a donated drug must have a valid prescription form in his/her own name.
By recycling your unused medicine, you not only help the planet, but others in need. To see how you participate in your hometown, check out the NCSL website, where a table lists current medicine recycling laws if your state has them.
- (12/31/1969). "Drinking Water of 41 Million Americans Contaminated with Pharmaceuticals" Environmental News Network http://www.enn.com/pollution/article/38022.
- (12/31/1969). "State Prescription Drug Return, Reuse and Recycling Laws" National Conference of State Legislatures http://www.ncsl.org/programs/health/Rx-Reuse.htm.
- Pomerantz, Jay. (12/31/1969). "Recycling Expensive Medication: Why Not?" MedGenMed http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1395800.
- Van Dusen, Allison. (12/31/1969). "Are You Taking Too Many Medications?" Forbes.com http://www.forbes.com/2008/06/19/health-drugs-prescriptions-forbeslife-cx_avd_0619health.html.
- Williams, Walt. (12/31/1969). "States Look at 'Recycling' Medicine for the Poor" RedOrbit http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/1539274/states_look_at_recycling_medicine_for_the_poor/.
angel
posted on December 29th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
I am in Mo. and looking for info to recycle our meds. monthly. We are wasting thousands of dollars a month. Not to mention we flush as well, big fear for me. If anyone can help I would appreciate it very much, I am having a hard time on my own. Thank you!!
Raquel Fagan
posted on December 30th, 2008 at 9:32 am
Hello Angel,
We can help! I did a search using Earth911.com’s Recycling Location Database and found a list of locations in Missouri where you can drop of our old medications for proper disposal. Please visit these search results here. You can narrow down the results by entering your zip code into the “where” field at the top of the search results page. Good Luck!!
Eco-Active Family » Blog Archive » Disposing of Expired or Unwanted Medications
posted on January 2nd, 2009 at 8:58 pm
[...] more about recycling and reclamation programs. According to Earth911, 37 states have created programs for recycling and reclaiming drugs. Find out what resources are available where you live and/or work. « Disposing of the [...]
Marie
posted on January 7th, 2009 at 4:49 am
I live in Central Texas and am interested in recycling my medications. Can anyone tell me where I can do this? This site doesn’t pull up anything.
thanks, MT
Keerstin
posted on January 20th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
I am guardian over my uncle who takes a variety of pills and diabetic supplies. The state of Maine does not have any recycling program and I am wondering if there is somewhere that I could ship his old meds. so someone else could use them.
Kate
posted on February 25th, 2009 at 4:34 pm
Our town is interested in a pharmaceutical take back/disposal program……not just pharmaceuticals that can be reused, but those that are expired, controlled, etc. and must be disposed of. Our goal is to keep these drugs out of the water supply so we are looking at alternatives to flushing or landfill dumping. Does anyone have a program like that? Can anyone help with information about what is required/involved?
Mac
posted on March 26th, 2009 at 7:04 am
I am located in the Atlanta metro area and have the same interest as Kate. I would like to inspire our local municipal entity to include this sort of service at our recycle center. Please send info.
Matthew Mireles
posted on April 7th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
We are researchers in patient safety and a leader in the study of unused and expired meds (UEM). Our research group has set up the National Unused and Expired Medicines Registry to collect info about UEM, the cost and environ impact. Additionally, we now publish the official and most updeated list of drug take-back programs in our National Directory of Drug Take-Back and Disposal Programs.
Jennifer’s article about recycling unwanted meds is very accurate but may encourage individuals to get rid of their meds by donation. Please be extremely careful. We stand firmly against individual dontation of drugs for safety reasons. Readers may benefit from becoming more aware of the guidelines for proper donation at the United Nations World Health Organization.
The best recommendation and strategy to reduce excess and unwanted meds is to be honest and assertive with the prescribing docs. Ask for less quantity and only enough for your condition. Take meds are strictly prescribed especially antiobiotics. We go as far as telling individuals to drop their meds at the doc’s office and let him or her deal with it. Of course, there are more proper ways to handle UEM at official drug take-back sites. Please conact us for the list of locations and ideas to prevent stockpiling of UEM at home and improper disposal of UEM. We’ll be happy to help. http://www.communityofcompetence.com; 832-778-7777