Don’t Throw Away Old Meds Until You Watch This!
Found expired prescriptions? Here’s how to dispose of medications safely.
🔗 Find answers from Cedarville’s Ask the Pharmacist: https://cedar.to/AskThePharmacist
If you’ve ever opened your medicine cabinet and found old or unused prescriptions, you’re not alone. In this Ask the Pharmacist segment with WDTN-TV, Dr. Shannon Yarosz, Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice at Cedarville University, explains the safest ways to dispose of prescription medications and why proper medication disposal matters for your family and community.
Dr. Yarosz highlights drug take back programs as the safest and most recommended option. Many local pharmacies, hospitals, police stations, and fire stations participate in medication take back initiatives, and the DEA also hosts National Drug Take Back Day twice a year. These programs help prevent medication misuse, accidental ingestion, and environmental harm.
Timestamps:
0:00 What to do with old or unused prescriptions
0:36 The safest way to dispose of medications
1:29 Can you throw medications in the trash?
2:35 Is it safe to flush medications down the toilet?
3:30 How to find drug take back locations near you
If a take back program isn’t available, Dr. Yarosz explains how to safely throw medications away at home. Remove them from original containers, mix them with something unpalatable like used coffee grounds or cat litter, place the mixture in a sealed container, and then dispose of it in the trash. Simply tossing pill bottles in the garbage is not recommended.
Flushing medications down the toilet or sink is generally discouraged. However, the FDA maintains a flushable list for certain high-risk medications that could be especially dangerous if misused. Even then, flushing should be a last resort.
Have questions about expired prescriptions, medication safety, or proper disposal methods? Cedarville University’s Ask the Pharmacist connects you with trusted pharmacy professionals.
💊 School of Pharmacy: https://cedar.to/Pharmacy
🎓 Admissions: https://cedar.to/Admissions
#AskThePharmacist #MedicationSafety #DrugTakeBack #PharmacyPractice #CedarvilleUniversity #PrescriptionSafety
PN: 26-0420
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Cleaning out your medicine cabinet? Dr. Shannon Yarosz from Cedarville University explains how to safely dispose of old or unused prescription medications. Learn about drug take back programs, safe at-home disposal methods, and when flushing may be appropriate so you can protect your family and community.