How do you waste meds? Environmental concerns.

[WondeRNurse]

I have been running a thread in the General Nursing Forum regarding how meds are wasted. It has been a concern for the nurses I work with and for others across the nation, as so much goes down the toilet or sink. Some say it goes into the trash, others say it goes back to the pharmacy or to the reps. The AP released a study last year stating most of the medications found in public water was from excretion. However, several nurses have expressed that they knowingly contribute to the pharmaceutical waste in the water supply, leading one to believe that at least a percentage of health care workers contribute to this growing problem. It would be good to know some numbers, so I have decided to poll:

How do you waste your medications?

Do you have environmental concerns?

Are there laws/policies that mandate disposal practices in your area?

What kind of facility do you work in?

What state/country do you work in?

It is my belief that if nurses speak out, we can make a difference in the environment. Please share your thoughts and experiences. Even if someone's experiences are the same, please add yours to the list. There is strength in numbers. Let's make Health Care care about health.:redbeathe

Our children thank you.

[Sean 91]

1. How do you waste your medications?

[A]way goes trouble down the drain."

2. Do you have environmental concerns?

Yes, with the latest studies that show tap water has traces of just about every kind of med. Would be interesting to see if bottled water has levels as well.

3. Are there laws/policies that mandate disposal practices in your area?

Unaware.

4. What kind of facility do you work in?

Hospital.

5. What state/country do you work in?

Home of the free, land of the brave.

[suzanne4, RN]

No medication should be wasted down a drain, there are actually containers that many facilites are getting where any wastes need to be placed; this goes for IV fluids as well.

They are white in color and have blue lids, you may wish to ask your manager or director about them.

It is actually going to be coming out as a national policy soon for the safety of the water supply. There are already laws going into effect concerning this around the country at this time, and it is for our sake as well as everyone else's that we follow them when they become the law in your area, or you can start now.

There are also separate containers for disposal of certain medications such as nitroglycerin bottles, medication patches, etc.

[psalm51]

How do you waste your medications?

current unwritten policy is to FLUSH

information has been shared in my hospital. many of the nurses have begun to dispose of most meds in the sharps container -- still no formal written policy however.

Do you have environmental concerns?

absolutely

Are there laws/policies that mandate disposal practices in your area?

no law yet - just guidelines

What kind of facility do you work in?

hospital

What state/country do you work in?

Pennsylvania

[Irish Nurse 89]

No medication should be wasted down a drain, there are actually containers that many facilites are getting where any wastes need to be placed; this goes for IV fluids as well.

They are white in color and have blue lids, you may wish to ask your manager or director about them.

It is actually going to be coming out as a national policy soon for the safety of the water supply. There are already laws going into effect concerning this around the country at this time, and it is for our sake as well as everyone else's that we follow them when they become the law in your area, or you can start now.

There are also separate containers for disposal of certain medications such as nitroglycerin bottles, medication patches, etc.

This is a very interesting concept. I could be wrong about this, however, at this time, I don't believe the hospital that I work for has such a thing set up. Do you have a link, or a name of this product, so I can talk to my manager about it? Thank you...

[Dolce, RN]

How do you waste your medications?

I squirt it out in the sharps container.

Do you have environmental concerns?

Yes, which is why I don't flush the drugs down the drain.

Are there laws/policies that mandate disposal practices in your area?

We are either supposed to flush them or squirt them down the drain. However, I believe this to be contributing to the water pollution problem. So I waste them in the sharps containers.

What kind of facility do you work in?

Hospital.

[Sean 91]

"No medication should be wasted down a drain, there are actually containers that many facilites are getting where any wastes need to be placed; this goes for IV fluids as well. They are white in color and have blue lids, you may wish to ask your manager or director about them."

I definitely agree with that. But I've never seen any such box at four hospitals. Should be. Some of us were just talking about it the other day. Suppose the meds could be wasted in a sharps box, but we had an aide at one place who broke into the sharps to get the dregs in Morphine and other narc vials at one hospital--but I don't suppose anyone would bother with pills, would they?

It's not something that any of my administrators have addressed, nor The Joint Commission(formerly JACHO) has addressed, is it, but maybe someone from TJC will read this issue and address it. Nor has the U.S. HHS (which has a greater responsibility than TJC).

Of course, TJC never catches the tele tech with her nose in the newspaper, either.

Should definitely be, though. I agree.