KEEPING DRUG DISPOSAL SECURE

Abstract

DOZENS OF STATES and local communities across the U.S. have sponsored drug take-back programs to help keep unused pharmaceuticals out of the nation’s waters and out of the hands of drug abusers. But about 10% of prescriptions dispensed in the U.S. contain controlled substances such as painkillers, which cannot be collected legally by most take-back programs under current Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) regulations. Lawmakers, particularly those from rural areas where prescription drug abuse is high, are urging DEA to loosen up its restrictions and allow take-back programs to collect all unwanted drugs for disposal. They are also calling for a single federal guideline to help consumers know what to do with unwanted medications. Various federal entities, including the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, the Food & Drug Administration, the Fish & Wildlife Service, and the Environmental Protection Agency, have offered guidelines for consumers on how to properly dispose of unused medicine...