AMA seeks advice on safe drug disposal

An increasing amount of attention is being paid to this emerging issue.

By Victoria Stagg Elliott, AMNews staff. July 3, 2006.

Chicago -- Like most physicians, when J. James Rohack, MD, changes a patient's medication, he tells the patient to discard the old pills -- but doesn't say exactly where or how.

"Right now, it's up to the patient," said the AMA Trustee and cardiologist from Temple, Texas.

But recognition is growing that improperly discarded pharmaceuticals might not be good for the environment, and physicians and patients need more specific direction on what should be done with medications that are no longer needed.

"Very few patients really realize what they should do with their leftover drugs," said Alfred Cox, MD, a family physician and delegate from South Bend, Ind. "Throwing them in the garbage or flushing them down the toilet is not the right answer."

Concern is particularly high with regard to the impact of discarded pharmaceuticals on the water supply. To address this issue, the American Medical Association wants the Environmental Protection Agency to bring together federal agencies, medical societies, pharmaceutical firms, pharmacists and public health organizations to develop guidelines that would reduce the chance of contaminating drinking water with drugs or personal care products, according to a policy based on three resolutions that was approved at the AMA Annual Meeting last month.

"We want to have a way to dispose of [drugs] safely so that we don't wind up polluting the water," Dr. Rohack said.

This action is being taken after investigations by the U.S. Geological Survey detected small amounts of acetaminophen, estrogen and several antibiotics in organic wastewater. The effect, if any, that these levels might have on people is unclear.