Who is authorised to discard medications

This, of course, creates quite the conundrum. Recall the news last year that traces of prescription drugs have been found in the drinking water of an estimated 41 million Americans.

In the course of a five-month inquiry, the investigators discovered that pharmaceuticals had been detected in the tap water of 24 major metropolitan areas, including Southern California, Northern New Jersey, Detroit, Michigan, and Louisville, Kentucky.

That study did not specifically address the issue of whether controlled substances were detected. However, it does not present any intellectual hurdle to understand that if drugs are being flushed or poured down the drain, then there will certainly be some controlled drugs found in the mix.

A unique public-private partnership between the U. If medication is a solid pill, liquid capsule, etc. The idea here is to prevent other adults, children, and pets or animals from consuming the drugs directly from the trash. You should also be aware that the coalition is recommending that people who have questions about these procedures consult a pharmacist. On January 21, , the DEA announced that it is seeking information and input from the public and stakeholders, including pharmacists, about what to do with controlled substances that are no longer being used.

The document asks questions directed at the various entities and individuals listed. The administration will accept comments and input until March 23, Talking with kids about alcohol and drugs. Accessed February 4, For interest continues in 10 states, with some of the focus on cancer drug repository programs that allow an individual, health care facility or drug manufacturer to donate cancer drugs or supplies needed to administer cancer drugs for use by those who meet eligibility criteria.

National Conference of State Legislatures. Updated December 22, Accessed January 31, Kocian L. Getting rid of what the doctor ordered. Consumers with unwanted medicines should be encouraged to return these to their closest community pharmacy for disposal via the Return Unwanted Medicines RUM Program external link.

Authorised persons should use a waste disposal method for Schedule 8 medicines that is secure and environmentally sound. Medicines may be treated as clinical waste and disposed of this way where this is consistent with best security and environmental practices. Schedule 8 medicines can only be destroyed when they are no longer suitable for patient use, such as being expired, contaminated, damaged or otherwise unfit for human or animal use.

They must be destroyed and disposed of under the personal supervision of an authorised person. Persons authorised to destroy Schedule 8 medicines include those health practitioners ordinarily permitted to obtain, possess or supply a S8, such as medical practitioners, pharmacists, registered nurses, etc. Each time a Schedule 8 is destroyed this action must be recorded in the approved transaction Register, including the date, item and quantity destroyed and reason for destruction.

To physically dispose of a Schedule 8 medicine they should be first be made unidentifiable by removing all labelling and packaging, and then made physically or chemically unusable by breaking ampoules, emptying liquid contents, crushing tablets and using a disposal kit. Purpose made controlled drug disposal kits suspend the Schedule 8 medicine in a gel preventing retrieval.

They are strongly recommended to maintain security and those with a chemical neutralising agent included are preferred. While awaiting final disposal Schedule 8 medicines must continue to be held securely to prevent theft or diversion.

Storage in an approved drug safe should continue, until immediately before final transfer to the place of incineration. For more detailed recommendations on individual settings please see the following table. For disposal of very large or commercial quantities of Schedule 8 medicines please contact the Medicines and Poisons Regulation Branch for further advice. Go back to Top. Skip to navigation Skip to main content Site map Accessibility Contact us.

Search this site Search all sites. We monitor, inspect and regulate services to make sure they meet fundamental standards of quality and safety and we publish what we find, including performance ratings to help people choose care. About provider portal. Keywords or service name. Location e. Disposing of medicines. Categories: Organisations we regulate All care settings should have a written policy for the safe disposal of surplus, unwanted or expired medicines.

Other expiry dates are shortened if they're removed from controlled temperature storage. Risk Care homes must dispose of unwanted medicines appropriately, to avoid placing people who use services at risk. Examples A person who is no longer a resident was previously supplied medicine.

Process You should record the process for disposing of medicines in your medicines policy. Nursing homes You must only return medicines to a licensed waste disposal company. Controlled drugs Controlled drugs in Schedules 2, 3 and 4 Part I must be denatured before disposal. Care homes without nursing You should separate unwanted or out-of-date controlled drugs from current stock.

All medicines, including controlled drugs, should be promptly returned to a community pharmacy. Nursing homes Patients' own controlled drugs Patients' own individually-labelled controlled drugs must be denatured before handing to the waste disposal company. Good practice involves two staff members - one to denature and one to witness.

Stock Occasionally, the Home Office grants a licence for a nursing home to hold a stock of controlled drugs. You must denature out-of-date stock in Schedules 2, 3 and 4 Part I. Keeping records You must keep records to ensure that medicines are handled properly during disposal. Records could include: date of disposal or return to pharmacy name and strength of medicine quantity removed person for whom medicines were prescribed or purchased signature of the member of staff who arranges disposal of the medicines signature of the person collecting the medicines for disposal Nursing homes should also keep records of transactions with registered waste disposal companies.

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