[amyindiana]

I have worked for several hospices, I have never heard of this practice. I feel it would be a liability to the hospice as these drugs are provided under their direction.

[curiousauntie]

When I worked in long term care, we used to joke about the happy fishies...after flushing the narcs. Then when Medicare Part D happened and we had to start to dispose of all of the OTHER meds, because any one that had been paid for by a Medicare Part D program could not be returned to the pharmacy, we started to see how our tax dollars were being wasted over and over again.

Now in hospice, I used to melt them in hot water, in a glass or ceramic cup and flush them. But living near the ocean and all of the news about the antidepressants in the water supply has stopped that. Now we are supposed to use clumping kitty litter and a zip lock baggie...put the meds in and add warm water, squish around til it becomes a big mess, then throw in the trash. Yucky, but effective.

[amyindiana]

How do you have access to kitty litter in every home. Surely not every patient owns a cat?!?!? DO you carry kitty litter in your car?

[curiousauntie]

Originally Posted by amyindiana

How do you have access to kitty litter in every home. Surely not every patient owns a cat?!?!? DO you carry kitty litter in your car?

Our policy says that we should have clumping kitty litter in zip lock bags available in the office...You see that in my original post I say that we are supposed to use kitty litter. I haven't gotten my bags yet, but there is always hope! The idea was that we would get a big bag of the stuff and our teen aged volunteers would put it in zip lock bags for the nurses. And yes, we would then carry it in our cars with the rest of the "death pac".

[dailysong]

Our facility's protocol is to pour liquid meds into cat litter. Suppositories are crushed or microwaved and pour into the litter. Pills are also crushed and water added, etc. etc. The litter is then thrown away. While it's still a possible concern with contamination, it seems this would be less likely a direct hit on the water.

Tough item wish we could donate to veterinarian's offices or Humane Society Medical Professionals.

[AtlantaRN]

crush medications and put them in with coffee grounds, rather than flushing them and contaminating the water system.

[Mazzi]

Federal guidelines state to place narcotics in cat litter or coffee grounds to dispose narcotics.