Controlled substance wasting policies?

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Sep 29, 2011

http://www.uspharmacist.com/content/d/pharmacy_law/c/12639/

http://or.ucsf.edu/ehs/9241-DSY.html

I haven't read through all of these. Check with your P&P manual....I've wasted stuff in the sink, sharps container, toilet (depended on volume- in alcohol/drug rehab, 6-packs were brought in:uhoh3:) .

Just be sure it's witnessed. :)

MN-Nurse, ASN, RN · Sep 29, 2011

Where do you dispose of your left over controlled substances, more specifically injectables? I know some nurses squirt the left over into the sharps container, and some down the sink and some into the trash. What I want to know is, are there federal/state laws regarding this? Do some states make it illegal to squirt down the sink for example?

Into the trash it goes.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Sep 29, 2011

It depends on your facilities policy and procedures. It is the upmost importance that you follow your facilities policies to the letter. Most facilities where I have worked they were wasted (ALWAYS with a witness) in the sink, in the trash, on the ceiling, into thin air, on the walls (hence all the drip marks everywhere)...... :cool:

But I have worked facilities where there was a narcotic "return bin" in the Pyxis machine itself where the unused narcotics were returned to and pharmacy wasted them. One place obviously had had an issue. The LABLED unused narcotic was placed in the bin under the patients name and how much given and pharmacy did the waste. The other the unused narcotic was returned to Pyxis and witnessed as returned and pharmacy wasted.

Check with your facility.:)

FLArn · Sep 29, 2011

In FL ALL meds are destroyed by liquifying them and pouring them into kitty litter, used coffee grounds or other inedible substances in plastic bags and thrown in the trash.

psu_213, BSN, RN · Sep 29, 2011

I usually draw up narcs from the carpuject and then throw the left over (container and all) in the sharps box.

I was told a while ago, in a different job, not to waste in the sink or toilet, as it could get into the water supply...not sure on the truth on that one. To go back to Seinfeld, I'm not sure how those pipes are connected :lol2: .

If it is a pill (perc, vicodin, etc), I waste in the sharps box.

I know when we waste our Pyxis, it gives us choices on how we disposed of the meds: "rinsed down sink," "destroyed and put in garbage," "put in sharps box," to name a few...I know there are other choices. I figure any of these are approved methods of wasting, although I have not ready our official P&P on this (I know, shame on me).