Department of Public Works
No Drugs Down the Drain |
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| Do not flush unused, unwanted, and expired medications down the toilet or put them in drains! |
How should I dispose of my medications? ✔ Take to free HHW collection events; or ✔ Take to drop-off sites at Antelope Valley Environmental Collection Center (AVECC) or at SAFE Centers; or ✔ Take to designated Sheriff's stations for safe and anonymous disposal; or ✔ Put in a sturdy, securely sealed container, then in a trash can where children and animals can’t reach them. |
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What are medications, pharmaceuticals, and drugs? |
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Why is this important?
Medications flushed down the toilet or in drains pass through the sewer system
and eventually enter our streams, lakes, and rivers. Medicines and synthetic hormones have been detected
in trace amounts in water bodies. This could lead to increased bacterial resistance to
antibiotics and interference with growth and reproduction in aquatic organisms such as fish and frogs.
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The presence of medications in the environment is a complex issue and the risk to humans
and the environment is still being determined. With tens of thousands of medicinal products on
the market and more being developed each year, the long-term risks have not been determined on
the effects on the environment. However, in order to minimize the potential negative
and irreversible impacts, it is important that we limit the disposal of waste medications
to the sewer.
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The California Pharmacists Association has partnered with
No Drugs Down the Drain
and recognizes the need to divert waste medicines from the sewer. The
Drug Take-Back Network
serves as a central information source for parties interested in learning about
drug take-back and disposal issues. |
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