Dear Ali A. Al-Homaidan ,

Thank you for joining the conversation. I think that this is a dangerous situation for the employee and for regular businesses that cannot dispose of drugs safely, it is also dangerous. There used to be drop boxes in pharmacies for old prescriptions, not just narcs. It is sad to realize that flushing drugs down the toilet endangers the water supply and that safe measures need to be followed.

brigid

Brigid Conroy I don't see the situation as described in your question as ineluctably problematic, since the practice of pharmacies having anonymous drop boxes is always an option and presumably pharmacies would follow proper disposal procedures; surely businesses might do the same. But it would be up to people to return the meds without labels that would identify themselves.

My physician accepts the return of unused drugs. When feasible he may use them as samples or donate them to other patients. Of course this applies only to unopened and unexpired blisters or bottles from prescriptions he himself had authorized. Here in Australia, almost every med is blister-packed, even ASA, if you can believe it.

Dear Karl Pfeifer,

I think that the practice of repurposing drugs that have not been opened is a good idea but, I am not sure that it is allowed in the US. I remember as a kid, that it was a relatively common practice. However, for the doctor's safety, it has been discouraged except in limited instances. If you can believe it, blood pressure pills are sold for as much as 5 or 6 dollars a pill in retirement communities.

As a licensed professional, I would prefer to be able to drop pills off anonymously. But, in the hospital, everything is on camera. I only dispose of my used inhalers at the hospital. I do not think that employers should be able to see an employee get rid of any med from cholesterol to blood pressure to sleeping pills. Now pharmacies do have small drop boxes and I am okay with them.

Thank you so much for your detailed and interesting post.

brigid

Under the ADA, an employer may ask a current employee about prescription medicine only when it's job-related and consistent with business necessity. That means you may not ask all employees to disclose any medications they take.

A controlled substance can be disposed of by destruction, return, recall, sale or through the manufacturing process. When disposing of by destruction, the drug must be rendered non-retrievable. ... Incineration is the only method currently accepted by the DEA to render a drug non-retrievable.

This is a good approach and should be encouraged.

Dear Kamal M Alsaad

Thank you for your valuable information.

brigid