Last year, the Drug Enforcement Administration started a plan where pharmacies across the country would accept customers' old and unwanted prescription medications in order to destroy them. The idea was to create a safe way for consumers to dispose of old medications and to possibly ease the national epidemic painkiller abuse. However, only 1% of pharmacies in the United States have set up disposal programs
The country's two largest pharmacy chains, CVS Health and Walgreens, are not taking part in the program.
Getting rid of old and unwanted prescription drugs can be difficult. Keeping old drugs such as oxycodone and Xanax can be unsafe because they can be stolen. Flushing unwanted medications down the toilet is possible, but can pollute water sources. Throwing them in household garbage creates similar environmental concerns.
Pharmacy participation in the program is voluntary and the pharmacies must foot the bill for the costs of collecting, protecting, and destroying the pills. At least eight states, including New York, have laws that forbid pharmacies from taking back controlled substances.
Since 2010, the DEA has held 10 drug take-back days during which police and other law enforcement groups collect unwanted medications for disposal. They have collected 2,400 tons of pills, with the majority of pills taken in being noncontrolled medications like cholesterol drugs and antibiotics, rather than the controlled medications that are the program's main target.
For people who cannot find a pharmacy to take their unused medication, there is a do-it-yourself kit, in which the pills are mixed with water and other substances to render their contents inactive.
Generally only small, independent pharmacies have used the DEA's new guidelines to begin collecting controlled medications, according to The New York Times. They are doing this from civic responsibility and as a means of getting more customers in the store.
The small number of participating pharmacies may cast doubt on the future of the DEA program.
