Environmental Law

You May Be a Criminal and Not Even Know It

By Walter James

Ever flushed the last of a prescription down the toilet?  How about an out-of-date prescription?  Ever throw them out in the trash?  Until recently, federal guidelines recommended that these drugs be flushed down the toilet.  That is just plain, flat out, the wrong way to do it.  When you do that, the drugs end up, ultimately, in the water we drink.    

According to a story in the Washington Post, ?about 19 million tons of active pharmaceutical ingredients are dumped into the nation's waste stream every year.?  The story goes on to state that: ?The EPA has identified small quantities of more than 100 pharmaceuticals and personal-care products in samples of the nation's drinking water. Among the drugs detected are antibiotics, steroids, hormones and antidepressants. Last year, the Associated Press reported that trace amounts of drugs had been found in the water supplies of 24 major metropolitan areas . . ..?  You can read the full story at

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/01/AR2009050103243.html

So what is the best method for disposal of old drugs?  It is incineration by a commercial waste disposal company.  No, do not go out and toss your drugs into the fire place.  Check with your local pharmacy.  While ?drug take-back? programs are hard to find, every pharmacy SHOULD have a program in place for the disposal of old drugs.  Shame on them if they do not.  

More later.

As always, feel free to contact me via e-mail at walter.james@jamespllc.com.

WDJiii

Full post as published by Environmental Crimes Blog on May 05, 2009 (boomark / email).