How to Safely Get Rid of Unused Medications Skip to main content Close Select your preferred language English عربى 简体中文 繁體中文 فارسي עִברִית 日本語 한국어 Русский Español Tagalog Menu Close Call 1-800-CEDARS-1 toggle search form Close Los Angeles, 24 June 2019 06:00 AM America/Los_Angeles How to Safely Get Rid of Unused Medications download Your browser does not support HTML5 video. How to Safely Get Rid of Unused Medications Every year, millions of Americans misuse or abuse prescription medications, sometimes leading to emergency room visits, addiction or even death. The problem has worsened amid the ongoing opioid crisis. To prevent drugs from falling into the wrong hands, it's more important than ever to dispose of unused pills in a safe and smart way. "Many people don't realize that simply throwing away leftover medications or flushing them down the toilet is actually very dangerous," said Cedars-Sinai pharmacist Karen Youmbi, PharmD. "People suffering from substance abuse disorders may scour trash cans for drugs, and flushed substances can end up in the water supply." Saving unused drugs also is risky because anyone in your home could take them, including children, and patients shouldn't use old prescriptions without guidance from a medical professional. The most common prescriptions that yield excess doses, Youmbi says, include medications for pain, chronic heart issues, anxiety or depression. " By following these simple disposal instructions, we can help keep our community safe. Rita Shane, Pharm.D, FASHP, FCSHP, chief pharmacy officer „ Youmbi, Manager of Pharmacy Regulatory Surveillance and Outpatient Pharmacies at Cedars-Sinai, offers her advice for safely discarding unused medications.Read the label-Follow any disposal instructions on the medication labeling.Drop off at a take-back site-Find a medication take-back location, such as a local pharmacy, where you can anonymously deposit unused meds in a drop box. Consult the Drug Enforcement Administration's website for a program near you, or call your local sheriff's department or area trash and recycling program for further options.Do it yourself disposal-If you don't see disposal instructions on a medication bottle or prescription label, and you cannot find a take-back program, follow these steps before throwing out drugs:Grind up the leftover pills, and mix them with used coffee grounds, dirt or cat litter. This makes it harder for children, pets or people looking through trash to find the meds.Put the mixture in a can with a lid or a sealable bag to avoid spillage.Remove the prescription label or scratch out personal information to protect your privacy and avoid identity theft-and don't forget to recycle plastic pill bottles. "By following these simple disposal instructions, we can help keep our community safe," said Rita Shane, PharmD, chief pharmacy officer and professor of medicine at Cedars-Sinai. 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But there's one routine they should not let lapse: refilling … Read more Show previous items Show next items Contact the Media Team Email: [email protected] Contact Marni Usheroff marni.usheroff@cshs.org Share this release How to Safely Get Rid of Unused Medications Share on: Twitter Share on: Facebook Share on: LinkedIn Search Our Newsroom Social media Visit our Facebook page (opens in new window) Follow us on Twitter (opens in new window) Visit our Youtube profile (opens in new window) (opens in new window) Latest news 07 Oct 2022 - HealthDay: Black Women Less Likely to Get Laparoscopic Fibroid Surgeries 07 Oct 2022 - Faculty Publications: Sept. 29-Oct. 6 07 Oct 2022 - Fine-Tuning Organ-Chip Technology 06 Oct 2022 - KCRW: Want New Omicron Booster? Wait at Least 2 Months After Last Shot 05 Oct 2022 - Cedars-Sinai Schedules Free Flu Vaccine Clinics 04 Oct 2022 - Cedars-Sinai Showcases Hispanic and Latinx Art Newsroom Home