What happens to medicines that are no longer required? Can you flush, dispose of, or pour it down the drain to keep it out of the wrong hands? However, depending on the chemical composition of the medication, improper disposal may contaminate the water supply. As a result, not only is marine life endangered, but also human health.
Many disposal measures have already been proposed to help prevent unintended child use or to deter people looking for opioids. In contrast, medication was not intended to be removed from water by septic systems or wastewater treatment plants. Medication-related compounds have already been found in streams and drinking water all around the country.
For more information on how to properly dispose of medicines, please check the infographic below.