Improper disposal of Pharmaceutical Waste is an emerging threat to public and environmental health. Approximately 66% of prescription drugs are not used before their expiration date. If improperly thrown away, unused drugs can end up in the landfill, our water supply, and can even end up in the hands of someone else.
Medicine that is flushed or put down the drain may affect our local rivers, lakes, and groundwater. When medications are flushed, they can easily enter our water as they are not entirely filtered by septic and community sewer systems. In 95% of streams sampled by the USGS, two or more pharmaceuticals were detected. Furthermore, more than 60% of streams had at least one pharmaceutical at a concentration that could be of potential concern for fish. Researchers encountered over 100 different types of medicines.
Prescription drug abuse is the nation’s fastest growing drug problem, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have classified prescription drug abuse as an epidemic. People are abusing prescription drugs at an alarmingly high rate. Annually around 14 million people in the United States abuse prescription drugs. Over half of the people who abuse prescription drugs got them from a friend or family member.
Instead of flushing medicine down the drain or putting it in the household trash, take it to a secure drop box. These drop boxes are spread throughout the Valley and are listed below.
Drop Boxes
Kalispell
- Flathead County Justice Center – 920 Main St.
- Walgreens Pharmacy – 40 W Idaho St.
- The Clinical Pharmacy – 200 Conway Dr.
- Medical Arts Pharmacy – 209 Conway Dr.
- Family Health Care – 1287 Burns Way
- Sykes Pharmacy – 202 2nd Ave W.
Whitefish
- Whitefish Police Station – 275 Flathead Ave.
- Alpine Apothecary – Inside Super 1 Foods
- Glacier Medical Associates – 111 Baker Ave
Columbia Falls
- Columbia Falls Police Station – 130 6th St. W
Another option for disposal include a National Drug Take Back Day. These days occur twice a year and offer a secure place to dispose of unwanted medication. For more information on National Drug Take Back Day, click here.
As a last resort, prescription medication can be mixed with an absorbent such as kitty litter or coffee grounds and contained in a leakproof container and disposed of in the trash. These substances are undesirable to children and anyone else looking through the trash.