STARKVILLE — Flushing unused medication down the toilet used to be the preferred method of disposal until increased levels of drug compounds started showing up in waste streams, lakes and rivers.
The health risks of medication disposed into the sewer, combined with unused medication being abused by others has prompted the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to offer anonymous drug turn-ins across the country.
Thursday and Saturday, the Mississippi State University Extension Services, the Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Department and the MSU Police Department collected more than 50 pounds of unused medication in U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration-sponsored events on campus and at the Piggly Wiggly parking lot.
The turn-ins were taken anonymously and inventory was not done on the drugs, which included prescriptions and over-the-counter creams, gels and liquids.
“We approached it two-sided, one from a water quality perspective, and for the law, keeping the medications out of the wrong hands,” said Amy Schmidt, water quality specialist at MSU. “I think it was extremely successful for everyone involved.
“The largest contributor to compounds ending up the water is through secretion, but if we can encourage people not to flush medications we would take a huge step in keeping water clean,” Schmidt added. “Water treatment plants aren’t designed to remove those types of compounds.”
Oktibbeha County Sheriff Dolph Bryan said it’s against the law to transport someone else’s medication, so there aren’t many effective ways to dispose of medication. And even if drugs are disposed in garbage bags, it’s still a “treasure trove” for drug abusers.
“That’s why this is a good, controlled way to get rid of them,” Bryan said. “People will go through your trash, even at a landfill to find drugs.”
The DEA, which has an office in Jackson, will collect the drugs this week and discard them, likely by incineration, Schmidt said.
Schmidt said none of the local agencies involved this weekend can accept more turn-ins. There will be another turn-in drive in the next six months, but Schmidt encourages disposing of drugs in garbage bags. By mixing drugs with coffee grounds, it will prevent drug abusers, pets or children from getting into it.
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