Keeping Prescription Drugs Out Of Waterways

BERLIN, Md. – Prescription drug use increases each year.  According to the CDC, the most commonly used types of drugs include asthma medicines, central nervous system stimulants like Adderall, anti-depressants and cholesterol lowering drugs, and so much of it goes unused.

Having left over medications in your home can be dangerous if you have teens or little ones around and you can't just throw it away, or flush it down the toilet. If you do it could have terrible consequences.  Prescription medication improperly disposed can end up running off into the surface water.  Whether you're throwing your drugs in the trash can, or flushing them down the toilet, it can be a big problem for the ecosystem.

“It affects the fish in our water ways, that's a real problem as far as fish stock being able to replenish itself and that has been traced back to certain medications,” said Kathy Phillips with Assateague Coastal Trust.

Once prescription medications are in the ecosystem there's no easy way to get them out.

“The technology used in most waste water treatment does not remove pharmaceuticals from the waste stream so they eventually end up in the local water bodies,” said Jane Kreiter, Director of Water Resources in Berlin.

But these medications can be disposed of safely before they become a medical concern.  National drug take back day happens now twice a year making a number of locations available for proper disposal.

“People can clear in used and expired medications out of their medicine cabinets and dispose of them in a much safer manner,” said Phillips.

Maryland State Police, Ocean Pines Police, Ocean City Police, even local Walmarts, are all working hand in hand to keep the community safe.

“This is a great way to safely dispose of them,” said Phillips.

There are two year-round prescription drop off locations, Ocean Pines Police Department and Ocean City Police Department and as a reminder drop off locations do not take any kind of pre-loaded syringes, like EpiPens.

Locations Participating In National Prescription Drug Take Back Day:

Maryland State Police: Princess Anne Barrack, 30581 Perry Rd Princess Anne, Maryland

New Castle County: Shipley Manor, 2723 Shipley Road, Wilmington, Delaware

Kent County: Heritage at Dover, 1203 Walker Road, Dover, Delaware

Sussex County: Beebe Tunnell Cancer Center, 18947 John Jay Williams Highway, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware