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Drug Disposal Guidelines

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has launched a Web page to help the public understand how to safely dispose of unused or outdated drugs. The site clarifies which drugs should be placed in the household trash and which should be flushed down the toilet or sink.
In general, drugs that should be flushed are those for which a single dose could be harmful or fatal. These include certain forms of:

diazepam

fentanyl

hydromorphone

meperidine

methylphenidate

morphine

methadone

oxycodone

oxymorphone

sodium oxybate.

FDA officials stress that most drugs should be mixed with something unpalatable, such as kitty litter or coffee grounds, placed in a sealed container or bag, and discarded with the household trash. Another option is to take unwanted drugs to a local drug take-back program if the law allows.
For more information, see the FDA's disposal guidelines or the federal drug disposal guidelines provided by the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

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