What happens to medicine that is no longer needed? Can you flush it, dispose of it, or pour it down the drain to keep it out of the hands of the wrong people? However, depending on the chemical makeup of the medicine, inappropriate disposal may contaminate the water source. As a result, not only marine life but also human health is at risk.
Various disposal strategies have already been suggested to help avoid unintentional child use or to discourage those hunting for opioids. Medication, on the other hand, was not designed to be removed from water by septic systems or wastewater treatment plants. Medication-related chemicals have now been discovered in streams and drinking water across the country.
Please see the infographic below for further information on how to properly dispose of drugs.