Consumer RX Waste

What are you and your patients doing with unused medications?

If you leave them in the medicine cabinet, you might be opening the door to diversion–the use of prescription drugs for recreational purposes. Even though you're not currently using the drugs, that does not mean someone else isn't. Seventy five percent of people who abuse drugs say they obtained them from friends or relatives (according to the National Safety Council).

Drug abuse isn't the only risk associated with unused medications. Last year the second leading killer (behind automobile accidents) of 35-54 year old adults in the U.S. was accidental overdose according to the CDC. Unused medications are dangerous for everyone.

And those medications aren't just a problem for humans. Not only does flushing unused meds down the drain or throwing them in the garbage pollute drinking water, pharmaceuticals are linked to bizarre mutations in fish, frogs and water fowl. The Associated Press recently reported the EPA found trace pharmaceuticals - including antidepressants, birth control and narcotics – in over 80% of the water samples they tested, affecting at least 46 million Americans.

So what can you do to help prevent prescription and over–the–counter drug misuse while protecting our water supply and the environment? Use TakeAway Environmental System™ – a secure, convenient, turnkey solution for proper disposal of unused patient medications – excluding controlled substances. Contact your pharmacist regarding the disposal of controlled substances. It's the safe, eco-friendly way to protect your family, community AND environment.

TakeAway™:

• Easy-to-Use – one container for all your discards
• Convenient – just fill and ship
• Confidential – no personal data is collected

TakeAway™ comes in a variety of sizes, depending on your needs. Programs are tailored specifically for: 

• Individuals
• Assisted Living Facilities
• Governments/Communities
• Pharmacies
• Hospices
• Other Needs