Proper Medication Disposal
Webb’s Family Pharmacy does not have the ability to dispose of your unused or unwanted medications
Please use the following resources to ensure medications and sharps are disposed of properly and safely
Available at Webb’s Locations
Deterra Drug Deactivation Systems are available as an option for people who may otherwise not be able to dispose of their medications properly.
These bags are designed to dispose of smaller quantities of medications rather than an entire medicine cabinet’s worth
Each large pouch can deactivate:
Pills / Films: 90 OR
Patches: 12 OR
Liquids: 12 oz / 360 mL
For more information about drug disposal, call your local Webb’s Pharmacy
Safe Storage of Medication
(from BitterPill.IN.GOV)
Keeping medication in your house puts you and your family at risk, which is why it’s important to safely store the medication you need, and dispose of unused or leftover medication. Proper disposal and storage protects against the following:
Accidental poisoning: Young children or pets might ingest medication if they find it. Avoid an accident by keeping unused medications out of your house. In case of poisoning, contact the Indiana Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.
Prescription drug overdose or death: Every 25 minutes, someone dies from a prescription drug overdose in America. Just one more pill, whether it comes from the street or the medicine cabinet, could lead to a tragedy.
Illegal use or theft: Giving or selling your prescribed medication to another person is not only misuse, it is illegal. As the epidemic of prescription drug abuse grows, theft becomes more common. This includes identity theft from the personal information on prescription bottles. Dealers and people who abuse medications may even go through your trash. Protect yourself by properly disposing of your unused medication—don’t just throw it away.
Contamination of water resources: Flushing your unused medication or pouring it down the drains contaminates Indiana’s rivers, streams and lakes. This can have devastating results on the fish and aquatic wildlife of these ecosystems. Protect our environment by properly disposing of unused medication.
Additional Safety Precautions for Opiate Medications
Naloxone
(aka Narcan)
Naloxone is a medication designed to rapidly reverse the effects of a life-threatening emergency involving opioids. This may be due to accidental or intentional ingestion of common pain medications available via prescription or by street drugs like heroin. This life-saving medication is now available over-the-counter, or via prescription.
Our pharmacists recommend that any patient regularly taking opioid medications keep their medications stored in a safe and secure place in the home, to prevent accidental or intentional prescription misuse. For an extra layer of security, patients storing opioid medications in their home may wish to have naloxone on hand in case of emergency.
Webb’s Family Pharmacy is doing our part to make sure our patients are informed about their options regarding access to naloxone. We are a registered “naloxone entity” and may prescribe the medication under a statewide standing order, which may allow for insurance coverage for anybody wanting or needing naloxone (subject to insurance plan limitations).
Additionally, you may find other local naloxone distribution sites and community resources using the Overdose Lifeline website here.
Please ask your local Webb’s pharmacist for more information about naloxone, including instructions for use.