Study: Crops Absorb Pharmaceuticals From Treated Sewage

Drug Stores should be mandated to take back medications and dispose of them in a safe manner.

On a new consumer Web site, the FDA lists 26 medicines that should be flushed, because the risk of harm from unwanted ingestion by children or pets is greater than the risk that traces of these drugs will end up in our drinking water.

Several of the drugs listed are pain relievers, including the commonly known Demorol, morphine and Percocet. While these drugs have disposal instructions listed on the label, this information is targeted toward health care professionals instead of patients.

For drugs not on the list, the FDA recommends the federal guidelines for disposal, which includes mixing the drugs with an undesirable substance such as cat litter or coffee grounds. This makes the pills less appealing to someone who may find them mixed with other garbage.

The FDA is also looking to improve drug disposal options such as take-back programs. These are generally handled on a state or local community level. However, some pharmacies do accept expired drugs for proper disposal.