The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today issued guidance for pharmacies and the public to keep unused drugs out of New York's waters. The guidance was prepared in consultation with the State Department of Health (DOH) and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. The guidance is available on DEC's Don't Flush Your Drugs website.
"Safely disposing of unwanted medications is an easy way for pharmacies, health care facilities, and the public to help protect water quality and safeguard public health and safety," said DEC Commissioner Seggos. "Many New Yorkers want to properly dispose of their unwanted drugs, but collection events and locations are not always convenient."
DEC urges all pharmacies to become authorized collectors of unwanted drugs, under the United States Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) Controlled Substances Disposal Rule and to install collection boxes to accept unused pharmaceuticals from the public. Alternatively, pharmacies can provide free or low cost mail-back envelopes to the public.
The new guidance will assist the public, pharmacies, and health care facilities to properly manage unwanted drugs. It also reminds pharmacies, other retailers, and veterinarians of requirements to post notices to comply with New York's Drug Management and Disposal Act.
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