The other day, I refilled a prescription. The medicine is a miracle drug and I’m glad it exists, but I don’t think fish and manatees gain any benefit from it. I don’t think birds or other animals poking around the public dump should be swallowing the stuff, and I sure don’t think unsuspecting people should be gulping it down with their iced tea.

There are strict regulations on pharmacists and doctors and hospitals and clinics for disposing of medications. There are regulations for the disposal of what is called medical waste. None of those regs apply to you or me or anyone else who’s trying to figure out what to do with those outdated antibiotics from three years ago or the heart medicine your grandmother stopped taking.

Well, now we have guidance. Here’s what we’re supposed to do according to the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, which worked with FDA to develop the first consumer guidance for proper disposal of prescription drugs. The 2007 guidance says to take the drugs out of their original containers (which aren’t reusable anyway), mix the drugs with an “undesireable substance, such as coffee grounds or kitty litter” so it’s less appealing to children and pets and unrecognizable to people who may go through your trash. Then, put the drugs in a sealable bag, empty can or other container and toss it in the trash. All done, finished, unless you’re dealing with a few powerful narcotic pain relievers or controlled substances. Those bad boys should be flushed down the toilet “… to reduce the danger of unintentional use or overdose and illegal abuse.”

FDA says (www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/drug_disposal062308.html) not to worry about drugs in the environment because part of a drug’s required approval application is an assessment of how the drug’s use would affect the environment and “there has been no indication of environmental effects due to flushing.” EPA says not to worry because scientists to date “… have found no evidence of adverse human health effects from pharmaceutical residues in the environment.”

Right. Tell that to the fish.