Are you one of the 131 million Americans who take prescription medications? If your answer is “yes”, you may be disposing of your unused medications incorrectly. Improper disposal causes harm to not only the environment, but to your neighbors as well.
We all know drinking contaminated water can make us sick. Earlier this year, a Portland apartment tenant died after contracting Legionnaires’ Disease through their apartment’s water system. What many of us are not always aware of, however, is another way water is contaminated: harmful chemicals from unwanted medications are being flushed down Americans’ toilets and flowing straight into our lakes, rivers, and drinking water.
Although some medications are considered safe to flush, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns against flushing most drugs due to their potentially harmful ingredients. According to a study by the United States Geological Survey, cancer medications and antibiotics were among the many contaminants found in drinking water sources.
Tom Hubbard, Utilities Division Manager for Corvallis Public Works, stated that improper medication disposal could be easily prevented through the City of Corvallis’ drug take–back program.
“Participating in a drug take–back program is the best way to dispose of unused medications,” said Hubbard. Current drug take–back events in Corvallis can be found here.
Hubbard added that local pharmacies often take back unused medications as well. According to the U.S. Department of Justice Diversion Control Division, Corvallis drug take–back locations include Safeway on Philomath Boulevard, Southwest Third Street, and Kings Boulevard; Good Samaritan Hospital; Thrifty Payless; Rice’s Pharmacy; and the Benton County Finance and Tax Office.
Hubbard noted that medications flushed as waste after digestion is also of concern when it comes to our drinking water.
“Some of these medications break down into what have been identified as contaminants of emerging concern [CEC],” he said. He explained that typical wastewater plants are not designed to remove these CECs, creating the potential for those ailments to surface in treated water. However, he added that there are many plants that treat CECs with a secondary or advanced treatment that do in fact remove them from drinking water.
“Keeping these unwanted medications out of the wastewater system is the first step in keeping them out of the raw water supply for communities across the United States,” said Hubbard.
By: Rebekah Harcrow
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