Health officials warn of flushing old, expired drugs

Thinking of cleaning out that medicine cabinet?

Think again, if your first instinct is to flush expired or unused medications down a toilet.

Chemicals in prescription and over-the-counter drugs can hurt septic systems or eventually make their way into water bodies from wastewater discharges and hurt aquatic wildlife, Lake County health officials warn.

The Lake County Health Department and the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County are urging area residents to dispose of items, such as expired or unwanted drugs, supplements, cosmetics, skin care products and perfumes, through alternate means.

County residents can now bring these items to household chemical waste collections at various locations throughout the county. The Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County started a similar drop-off program for unused household medicine and needles in May.

For years, studies have shown pharmaceuticals that end up in wastewater have an adverse environmental impact, said Mark Pfister, Lake County Health Department associate director of environmental health services.

"If people are dumping antibiotics down a septic system, it can kill the bacteria that keeps the system working properly," Pfister said. "Sewage treatment plants are unable to remove many of the chemicals that are in these products."

Pfister said the idea to offer a drug collection service here came after talking to doctors, pharmacists and nursing home health care providers who were advising patients and customers to dispose of medical waste down a toilet or drain.

"That led us to want to educate both the public and people that are in the profession that give advice on pharmaceutical disposal," Pfister said.

He hopes to get drug stores to start their own drug take-back programs.

It's an idea Deerfield-based pharmacy chain Walgreens has considered but found expensive to implement, said spokesman Michael Polzin.

"There are obviously a lot of logistical issues, especially when you are operating almost 6,000 locations all over the country," he said. "How do you do it in a cost-effective way and in a manner that's not going to burden the retail pharmacy."

Walgreens has participated in special drug collections in concert with several municipalities nationwide, but none locally.

"These are tough programs to do on an ongoing basis," Polzin said. "What we recommend for our patients is that they follow the EPA guidelines for disposing of medications."

The Environmental Protection Agency recommends mixing medication with cat litter or coffee grounds, or any such undesirable substance in a plain container and dump it securely with the trash.

But Merleanne Rampale, SWALCO public information officer, said that should be the last option.

"Household chemical waste collection is just a safe and convenient way," she said. "You know they are going to be handled carefully and disposed of properly. If your doctor or pharmacy does not have a take-back program, encourage them to start one."

The health department may consider starting its own drug take-back program through its community health center's primary care clinics, Pfister said.