Controlled Substance Disposal: 6 Safe Disposal Methods

Prescription drug misuse creates serious safety risks in communities across the country. When medications aren’t properly destroyed, they can end up in the wrong hands, fueling addiction and causing harm. Many people are still unclear about how to dispose of expired controlled substances. The guidelines for healthcare providers are even stricter, and there are serious consequences for improper handling. Luckily, with proper knowledge, anyone can safely dispose of prescription drugs. In this article, we’ll cover how to dispose of controlled substances, the risks of improper disposal, and the dos and don’ts of substance disposal.

What Is a Controlled Substance?

Controlled substances are drugs and chemicals that government authorities regulate because of their potential for abuse and health risks. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) categorizes these substances into five different schedules based on their medical uses, abuse potential, and safety. This classification system helps determine how strictly each substance is regulated, and ranges from the most restricted drugs in Schedule I to the least restricted in Schedule V.

Below are examples of controlled substances in each schedule.

• Schedule I: These highly restricted substances have no accepted medical uses in the United States and carry high abuse potential. Some drugs in this category include heroin, LSD, marijuana, and ecstasy.
• Schedule II: These drugs have medical uses but also a high potential for severe dependence. The schedule contains drugs such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine, fentanyl, and methadone.
• Schedule III: These drugs have medical uses with moderate to low physical dependence risk. Examples include ketamine, testosterone, and Tylenol with codeine (less than 90mg/dose).
• Schedule IV: These drugs have medical uses with lower abuse potential than higher schedules. This category includes Xanax, Valium, and Darvocet.
• Schedule V: These drugs have medical uses with the lowest abuse potential among controlled substances. This schedule includes products like Robitussin AC and other cough medicines with small amounts of codeine.

Controlled Substance Disposal: Dos and Don’ts

Proper controlled substance disposal is crucial for safeguarding public health, preventing medication abuse, and protecting the environment. When medications expire or are no longer helpful, appropriate disposal methods prevent these potentially harmful substances from falling into the wrong hands or contaminating the water supply.

The following are the best practices for safely handling controlled medication disposal.

Dos of Controlled Substance Disposal

• Drug take-back programs should be your first choice of controlled substance disposal. These professionally managed collection services ensure medications are destroyed properly and in compliance with regulations.
• Documentation is required throughout the entire lifecycle of controlled substances. Keep detailed records of when a substance was received, administered, and disposed of, including its name, strength, quantity, and method of disposal, to demonstrate compliance during inspections.
• Separate expired drugs from your active inventory, and continue to store them safely. Clearly label them as “expired” or “for disposal” to avoid accidental use.
• Train your healthcare staff to handle controlled substances, and make sure everyone understands the regulations that apply to the entire process from storage to final disposal, protecting your practice from potential liability.
• Check the FDA flush list before considering toilet disposal. Some medications are specifically approved for flushing when take-back options aren’t available, but this applies only to those medications explicitly listed by the FDA as safe for this disposal method.

 Don’ts of Controlled Substance Disposal

• Don’t dispose of drugs and medications in regular trash, since this creates serious risks. Trash disposal makes medications accessible to unauthorized individuals, and regular landfills aren’t designed to process pharmaceutical compounds, making proper disposal of expired controlled substances essential.
• Never flush medications that are not FDA-approved. Most medications should not enter the water system because they can release chemicals that water treatment plants cannot effectively remove.
• Don’t mix controlled substances with other medical waste or place them in sharps containers. Controlled substance waste disposal requires specific handling, and mixing waste streams can lead to improper disposal of potentially toxic substances.
• Don’t incinerate medications in open containers or at low heat. Incineration releases toxic chemicals into the air, and incomplete burn-off may leave active pharmaceutical ingredients intact, posing environmental and health hazards.
• Don’t dispose of antibiotics or chemotherapy drugs in sewer systems. These potent medications can harm beneficial bacteria in treatment systems and potentially enter the water supply, causing environmental damage.

Dangers of Improper Disposal of Controlled Substances

Hospitals and clinics should follow efficient plans to safely dispose of drugs, since proper waste disposal of controlled substances protects people and the environment from harm. Healthcare facilities must comply with regulations from all levels of government while disposing of pharmaceutical products.

These are the main risks of improper disposal of controlled substances.

1. Environmental Contamination

Medications thrown in regular trash or flushed down toilets often end up in waterways. These chemicals pass through water treatment plants because the systems aren’t designed to remove them. Fish and other aquatic animals suffer when exposed to these compounds, exhibiting problems with growth, behavior, and reproduction. In addition, medications such as antibiotics can harm the beneficial bacteria that clean water systems. Both private individuals and facilities contribute to this growing problem when they dispose of controlled substances improperly.

2. Risk of Drug Abuse and Diversion

Controlled substances that aren’t properly disposed of can be stolen and abused. This issue, known as diversion, occurs when medications intended for patients end up in illegal use. Healthcare facilities face particular risks because they handle numerous potent drugs daily. Warning signs of possible diversion include employees acting out of character, unusual patterns in handling medications, and physical signs such as slurred speech or excessive sweating. Having an efficient tracking system in place ensures that every dose is traceable from delivery through administration and disposal. Proper disposal methods make discarded drugs unrecoverable and unusable, helping prevent addiction.

3. Legal Consequences

Organizations that break disposal rules face harsh penalties from government agencies that protect public health and the environment. Violations can trigger investigations from multiple governing bodies, with fines that apply every day until the compliance issues are resolved. In addition to financial penalties, healthcare facilities risk reputational damage, increased regulatory oversight, and potential loss of operating licenses. Some common violations include inadequate staff training, improper identification of hazardous drugs, and poor record keeping. Every medical center must employ well-defined procedures that meet relevant requirements at the federal, state, and local levels to avoid these outcomes.

4. Accidental Poisoning

Keeping leftover drugs rather than disposing of them properly also creates unnecessary risks in private citizens’ homes. For example, children are naturally curious and may confuse colorful pills with candy. Over 60,000 children receive emergency care each year after accidentally obtaining and ingesting unsupervised drugs. Teenagers may find improperly stored medicine and try it out of interest, potentially developing substance abuse problems. Domestic animals are also at risk because they can chew up containers or swallow pills that fall on the floor. Safe disposal methods eradicate these risks by removing unused medications from the home environment. This approach is much safer than keeping old medicines just in case they might be needed later.

Effective Methods for Expired and Unused Controlled Substance Disposal 

When medications expire or go unused, proper disposal prevents environmental contamination and keeps drugs away from unintended users. Various methods exist for disposing of medications, particularly controlled substances, such as the following.

1. Drug Take-Back Programs

Drug take-back programs let you safely hand over unwanted medications to the appropriate authorities. The DEA runs National Prescription Drug Take Back Days twice a year, where temporary drop-off sites collect medications with no questions asked. Many local law enforcement departments also offer collection days throughout the year. These programs accept all medications, including controlled drugs that other disposal services won’t take. Before dropping off your medications, scratch out your personal information, but leave the drugs in their original containers for identification. Many pharmacies now have permanent drop-off boxes where you can dispose of medications any time during business hours. All collected medications are incinerated, preventing the contamination of the waterways and drug abuse.

2. Drug Disposal Bags

Disposal bags are a convenient means of inactivating drugs at home. The bags contain substances such as activated charcoal that deactivate drugs once they’re mixed with water. Healthcare providers and pharmacies often distribute these bags as part of programs for disposing of expired controlled substances. They’re simple to use: put the medication in the bag, add water, seal the bag, and the chemicals inside will break down the medication. The entire used sealed bag goes in the regular trash without risk to the environment. It’s a great option for those who do not have ready access to take-back programs. Disposal bags deactivate most drugs in approximately 30 minutes and are effective and easy to use. They also prevent drug misuse and leaching into soil and water.

3. Drug Collection Kiosks

Collection kiosks offer convenient year-round disposal in accessible locations. They’re made of metal, resemble mailboxes, and are typically installed in pharmacies, hospitals, and law enforcement facilities. You simply drop your unwanted drugs into the one-way opening, so disposal is quick and discreet. Trained staff regularly empty the kiosks and arrange for the secure destruction of the contents. Major pharmacy chains have installed thousands of these kiosks to help address medication safety issues. Most kiosks accept prescription and over-the-counter medicine, including controlled substances, at many locations. Those who manage chronic conditions may end up with excess medications, and these kiosks are an easy disposal option.

4. Mail-Back Programs 

Mail-back programs allow people to dispose of medications easily, without traveling potentially far to drug take-back locations. These services provide pre-addressed, prepaid envelopes for sending medications safely through the mail. Once you obtain an envelope, fill it with unwanted medications, seal it, and bring it to any mailbox. The package goes directly to a specialized destruction facility where the drugs are disposed of. Some insurance plans and pharmacies provide these envelopes free of charge, particularly to patients taking controlled substances. The sealed packages also ensure privacy and security throughout the process, with no possibility of medication diversion during transport.

5. Heat Treatment

High-heat treatment completely destroys drugs at extremely high temperatures. Professional facilities burn drugs above 1800°F, breaking down all drug compounds into basic elements. The process involves the use of professional equipment with filters, so toxic fumes never linger in the air. While the public does not have direct access to incinerators, all reputable medication disposal programs or their partners use this method. Extreme heat ensures that there are no active byproducts of a substance left, preventing drug abuse and environmental contamination. Health centers with large amounts of expired medications are mandated to contact authorized incineration companies for safe disposal. This process is the most thorough destruction method and meets all legal requirements for the destruction of controlled substances.

6. Chemical Deactivation 

Chemical deactivation changes medications’ chemical structures to render them inactive. Specific commercial products contain chemicals that react with medications when mixed with water, breaking down the molecules that make the drugs work as designed. After mixing the deactivation product and the drug, allow the reaction to complete. The mixture can then be safely placed in the household trash. This process helps individuals who don’t have access to take-back programs. Chemical deactivation typically takes less than an hour and is suitable for most types of medications, including many controlled substances. To ensure complete deactivation, it is crucial to be aware that different products are appropriate for different medications. This solution is an easy and accessible option when other disposal methods aren’t practical.

Partner With Specific Waste Industries

Proper disposal of controlled substances ensures safety, legal compliance, and environmental protection. At Specific Waste Industries, we customize waste removal programs to your facility’s unique needs. Our professionals handle your waste safely and arrange secure transportation to licensed disposal facilities. We always provide comprehensive documentation to keep you compliant with all federal and state regulations. Call us today for a free quote at 1-877-425-2770, and take the guesswork out of controlled substance disposal.