Just say 'no' to old, unused medications

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Stacy Fowler
  • 1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --  For anyone who has ever had a joint injury, muscle strain or one of those coughing, sneezing, "makes-you-feel-icky" illnesses cycling through the workcenter, there's a good chance old prescribed medications are laying around at home that "could" fix it.

So what do you do? Taking old medications is not a good idea, according to the 1st Special Operations Medical Group Pharmacy Flight. They recommend disposing of them properly if they are no longer needed.

"As a general rule, most prescription drug items are only good for one year from when you receive them from the pharmacy," said Maj. Ann McManis, commander of the 1st SOMDG Pharmacy Flight. "If the medication is stored in a hot or humid area (the bathroom for example), the medication will not be good for one year."

One ready avenue for proper disposal is Hurlburt Field's National Take Back Initiative event Oct. 29 at the base commissary from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The U.S. Department of Justice's Drug Enforcement Administration is teaming up with the 1st Special Operations Security Forces Squadron, Hurlburt's Office of Special Investigations and the 1st SOMDG to give people a safe way of turning in medications.

The day of the event active-duty personnel, retirees, dependents and base civilians can drop off unused or expired medications at the commissary, said Detective Anthony Correia, chief of 1st SOSFS Investigations and Intelligence Flight. Turn-in coordinators prefer medications be dropped off in the prescription bottle; however, if those are not available, participants can let the gate guard know when they enter the base they are dropping off medications for the take back program at the commissary.

Sometimes these medications end up forgotten in the back of a cabinet, or some people might hold on to them for "just in case" scenarios. But there is a catch to keeping old medications.

"Some prescriptions may not be safe to take at a later time like eye drops, antibiotics and pain medications," McManis said. "People might think they have the same injury or sickness as before, but it could be a different or more serious sickness. It is important to contact your medical provider for direction before taking the [old] medicine."

For those who are unable to attend the turn-in, flushing down the toilet is not a good option either. Flushing old medication can contaminate the environment - especially waterways like the Sound and the local wetlands - because wastewater treatment systems aren't designed to remove the chemicals in most medications, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

So re-taking old meds isn't safe for the body, and flushing them isn't safe for the environment. Throwing them away in the trash isn't a good idea, unless they are made completely unusable.

"Many times people or stray animals will go through the trash to find usable items such as food and old medications," Correia said. "That could potentially be a danger to yourself or your family. Not to mention what will happen to the environment when they start dissolving into the soil."

To safely throw prescription medications away:
1. Keep the medicines in the original container. This will help identify the contents if they are accidentally ingested.
2. Mark out your name and prescription number for safety.
3. For pills: add some water or soda to start dissolving them For liquids: add something inedible like cat litter, dirt or cayenne pepper.
4. Close the lid and secure with duct or packing tape.
5. Place the bottle(s) inside an opaque (non see-through) container like a coffee can or plastic laundry bottle.
6. Tape that container closed.
7. Hide the container in the trash. Do not put in the recycle bin.

For more information on the Take Back event on Oct. 29, call 884-7705.