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Safely Disposing of Prescription Drugs .... Things have changed!

GOT PILLS???

Even decades ago we knew that having  expired prescription drugs was a safety risk. When I was growing up, I was always taught to simply flush the pills down the toilet. Unfortunately, this is EXACTLY what we did! Years later we have learned that this method of disposal is not at all good for the environment.

So the question now is, what is the proper way to dispose of expired or unused medication?

The first, and preferred method is to find a location that accepts unused medication. There is a household drug take back map available that shows locations across the state. Follow this link to find one of the centers in your area. Drug Take Back Map 

Often times these are pharmacies or local police departments. When using these services, be sure to make sure they accept the type of medication you are going to bring. Some locations only have capacity to accept certain medications.

If you do not have one of these facilities in your area, or cannot get to one, there is an alternative. Michigan's DEQ has released a procedure for disposing of medications, and here is their process:

  • Step 1: mix drugs with dirt (do not crush), kitty litter, or used coffee grounds; add a small amount of water to dissolve any solid meds
  • Step 2: seal drug with mixture in a plastic bag
  • Step 3: place plastic bag in trash
  • Step 4: scratch out personal information on the prescription container. Recycle or throw away
DO NOT DISPOSE OF CHEMOTHERAPY DRUGS via this method. Ask your
pharmacist how to dispose of this type of prescription drug.

Additionally, I have also included a link to a short 2 minute video from the DEQ about drug disposal. DEQ Drug Disposal Video

So why is it so important to dispose of these medications in such a careful way? The answer is quite simple. When drugs are flushed, or disposed of improperly they leach into our water table, effecting not only us, but the wildlife as well.

As always, thanks for reading and we hope you have found this information useful, please check back often for more updates! And don't forget to check us out on the web at

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