The Alliance to MedChi, The Maryland State Medical Society, has always promoted programs that assist physicians members and their patients. In light of that, we are starting a program that will also benefit the environment. The Alliance will be distributing materials to educate the public about how to safely dispose of unused medication.

Most people faced with this dilemma simply flush the medication down the toilet or pour it into a sink. Unfortunately, this is not the best solution. We must consider where the medication, or at least remnants of it, will end up – in our waterways. Although the water may be treated prior to sending it back to our rivers and streams, not all the medications and their byproducts can be removed. Putting medications into our waste water could ultimately affect fish and other wildlife as well as people. A strong effort is already underway to clean up our waterways. We need to do all we can to enhance this effort.

The best way to dispose of unused medications is to:

1. Pour medications into a sealable plastic bag or container. Solid medicines such as pills and capsules should be crushed and/or dissolved in water.
2. Add a substance such as kitty litter, sawdust, or coffee grounds, seal the container and throw it in the trash. Do not throw medication directly into the trash.
3. Remove and destroy all identifying personal information from the container before it is thrown away.

Pharmaceutical companies and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have approved certain medications for disposal by flushing down the toilet. This is often included with the instructions and information patients receive with their medi-

cations. These medications are considered to be extremely harmful, perhaps fatal, if ingested by anyone other than the prescribed person. The FDA recommends disposing of these medications as soon as they are no longer needed.

A list of these medications can be found at the Office of National Drug Control’s website:

• http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/
  publications/pdf/prescrip_disposal.pdf
  or at the Federal Drug Administration’s website:
• http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/
  Consumers/BuyingUsingMedicineSafely/
  EnsuringSafeUseofMedicine/
  SafeDisposalofMedicines/
  ucm186187.htm

The Alliance to MedChi will be distributing informational posters and brochures to physicians for their offices. This will help to inform patients of the safest methods to dispose of unused medication which will also protect their health and the environment. Please help us by placing these materials in your offices and by encouraging your patients to read them and take them home. Please contact the Alliance through MedChi or your local medical society to obtain these materials for your office.

Michele Kalish is Co-President of the Alliance to MedChi. For questions please call MedChi at 1.800.492.1056 or mrkalish@gmail.com.

Permission to use the following article, "Safe Disposal of Medications," by Michelle Kalish, in the winter 2010 issue of MARYLAND MEDICINE, the Journal of the Maryland State Medical Society granted by MedChi, the Maryland State Medical Society, April, 2010. This article may not be reproduced without the express permission of MedChi, the Maryland State Medical Society."