Proper pharmaceutical disposal is vital to public health and the environment. When pharmaceuticals are washed down the drain or flushed down the toilet, for example, they contaminate our wastewater.

At the same time, if pharmaceuticals are thrown in with the trash without the proper precautions, they can be found and consumed by children or pets.

In support of proper pharmaceutical disposal, Pima Association of Governments is a partner of Pima County’s Dispose-A-Med program, which supports pharmaceutical take-back events throughout the county.

In the Tucson region, treated effluent is released into rivers and washes, where it can infiltrate our soil and groundwater, carrying pharmaceutical residues with it.

Since medications are produced from an ever-changing array of complex chemicals, current technology does not allow wastewater treatment facilities to remove all these chemical wastes from effluent.

Pharmaceutical take-back programs, such as Pima County’s Dispose-A-Med program, allow law enforcement and local organizations to team up and collect unused or expired pharmaceuticals from the public.

Instead of throwing away or flushing pharmaceuticals, you can participate in a take-back event near you. For more information about the program and an event schedule, please visit the Dispose-A-Med Web page.

So far, the Dispose-A-Med program has been very successful. On Sept. 25, 2010, Dispose-A-Med partners participated in the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. Of the 3 tons of unused or expired pharmaceuticals collected throughout Arizona, Pima County residents contributed 1 ton.

Although take-back programs are preferred, if you are unable to attend a take-back event and you urgently need to dispose of medications, it is possible to throw them in the trash without risking the health of children or pets. Be sure to follow these steps:

1. Pour pills or liquid medication into a water-tight, opaque container, such as an empty margarine tub.
2. For pills, add enough warm water to partially dissolve them and form a paste. For liquid medications, you may skip this step.
3. Mix in used coffee grounds, kitty litter, soil, or another undesirable substance.
4. Place a lid on the container, seal it with packing or duct tape, bag it, and throw it in the trash.
5. Before disposing of prescription bottles, be sure to remove and destroy all labels to avoid identity theft.

Many patients in long-term health care facilities (nursing homes, hospice care, etc.) have numerous prescriptions. In 2009, PAG surveyed long-term health care facilities in Tucson to determine common pharmaceutical disposal practices and to assess the willingness of these facilities to participate in take-back programs.

PAG found that a majority of facilities relied upon pharmaceutical pick-ups and hazardous waste collection sites for disposal. In addition, most facilities indicated that they were interested in participating in regional take-back programs, especially site pick-ups, and some even offered to help develop a take-back program that will fit their needs.

For information about pharmaceutical waste disposal in healthcare facilities, visit the Practice Greenhealth Web site.