What Happens to Pharmaceuticals in Wastewater?

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Unfortunately, what might seem like the most obvious choice, a drug take-back program, is fraught with legal problems. Although pharmacies can sell controlled substances such as narcotics, they can't take them back. This October, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), in conjunction with the American Pharmacists Association, is beginning SMARxT DISPOSAL, a public outreach effort focused on proper drug disposal. In the long run, "we want to build the social will to create a national take-back program," says Joe Starinchak, coordinator for FWS's Fisheries and Habitat Conservation Program, but he notes that every state has different authorities that handle pharmaceuticals, creating "unbelievable" bureaucratic challenges. For now, the program emphasizes flushing only those medications that specifically state you do so. Others may be crushed and mixed with cat litter or coffee grounds before disposing in the trash can, but "consumers should be aware that the extra step incurs some risk, such as dropping a pill unknowingly on the floor," where pets or children might encounter it, Daughton says. A take-back program remains your best solution.

What You Can Do

* Don't hoard your excess drugs; dispose of them as soon as you no longer need them.

* Fold over birth-control patches and dump them in the garbage. Follow instructions where available for other medications, as certain drugs, such as the narcotic fentanyl, must be flushed to avoid posing a health threat.

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