By Vi Lam
October 2023 | 2023 Fall Newsletter
A 2023 CivicScience poll reported that 70% of Americans take at least one daily medication prescribed by a doctor. Medications are used to treat and manage chronic conditions and improve health and well-being. However, medications are considered a hazardous waste. Expired and leftover medications can be harmful to people and the environment if it not correctly disposed of.
When these medications are not safely disposed of, others can accidentally consume the medication, which can lead to poisoning, addiction, and even death. Medication that is thrown in the trash or is flushed down toilets or sink drains can get soaked into the ground and end up in our water supply. Water that has not been fully treated to remove these chemicals can end up in our drinking water or food from farms and gardens, which can be very dangerous.
In 2008, the U.S. government recognized these risks and acted on the need to safely deal with unwanted or expired medications with the creation of secure drop-off locations, which led to the 2015 Safe Drug Disposal Ordinance. Through the MED-Project, a group of medication makers was created to provide secure disposal of unwanted medicine across California.
National Prescription Take Back Day on October 28, 2023 can be a reminder for everyone to clean out our medicine cabinets and safely get rid of unneeded medications.
Find a drop-off kiosk near you by visiting MED-Project.org or calling (844) MED-PROJ to dispose of unwanted medications in a free, convenient, and safe way. Homebound and disabled individuals can also contact the MED-Project to request a pre-paid envelope to mail in medications for safe disposal.