Controlled Substances

What you need to know:

Controlled substances include opiates, stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens, and anabolic steroids. Examples of prescription drugs that fall under this definition are narcotic pain medications, tranquilizers, and sleep medications. Their disposal is regulated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on a national level, as well as by state and local law.

Like all prescription drugs, controlled drugs have the potential to cause environmental harm if they’re flushed or find their way to a landfill. The main concern, however, is drug diversion. Because these drugs are linked to addiction and abuse, they must be destroyed (including “wasting” of leftover liquids) and documented according to your facility’s policies and procedures.

Steps to safe disposal:

Tablets, capsules and liquid medication that is left over after administering a dose can be inactivated by using a product like Rx Destroyer (be sure the product is compliant with DEA regulations). Pills and capsules can also be placed in a secure container, then rendered non-retrievable by DEA standards, usually through incineration. There are many vendors, like MedSafe, that provide containers and manage drug destruction.