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Speaking Points for Press Conference
Why you should care about proper disposal:
- Studies have shown that pharmaceuticals are present in our nation's waterbodies at very low concentrations.
- Sewage systems and septic tanks are not equipped to remove medications so they enter surface water, groundwater and our soil.
- The risks are uncertain. Research suggests that certain drugs may cause ecological harm. Most research has investigated the disruption of aquatic endocrine systems (the system of glands that produce hormones that help control the body's metabolic activity) by natural and synthetic sex steroids, and found evidence of the “feminization of fish.”
- Currently, there are no known human health effects but more research needs to be conducted.
- The number medications are growing.
- As you heard previously...the human toll is great with illegal use, unintended deaths, pharming parties, poisoning of children and pets.
Prescription, or over the counter medications, should not be flushed down the toilet or poured down a sink.
Follow these guidelines to dispose of these products properly:
- First, check with your police department to see if they have a drug collection program, go to www.medicationdisposal.utah.gov for a list of disposal programs and locations
- Second, check to see if your community household hazardous waste program collects medications (they must have law enforcement officials present); and
- Lastly, if no collection options exist, follow these steps:
- Remove all personal identification from prescription bottles;
- Mix all unused drugs with coffee grounds, kitty litter, or another undesirable substance, make them absolutely unusable!
- Place this mixture in a sealed container before disposing in the trash, on the day of trash pick-up.
If your Police department does not have a collection program, encourage them to apply to our Pollution Prevention Grant program for one-time funding to purchase bins, signs, advertisement and pay for incineration expenses. ALL COLLECTED MEDICATIONS MUST BE INCINERATED.
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