Why You Should (and How To) Get Rid of Unused Opioids

By Kristy Brittain, PharmD, BCPS, CDE

Do you have opioids in your home that you no longer need? Get rid of them.

"Our nature is to hold onto things because we might need them someday," says MUSC Health Pharmacist Kristy Brittain. "In reality, we probably won't."

She says that keeping medications like opioids in the home is a risk, and access in the home is the biggest risk.

"For adolescents, first access to opioids is usually at their own home, the home of a friend, or the home of a family member."

That's why she advocates for getting rid of what you're not using. So how do you do that?

How to Get Rid of Opioids

If there's a drug take-back event happening, great — utilize that avenue. But the most important thing is to get these medications out of the house, so don't wait for a take-back event to do so.

You can also look to a local disposal site, she says, or flush them — specifically opioids — down the toilet. In fact, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has a flush list that includes any drug that contains these words:

• Buprenorphine
• Fentanyl
• Hydrocodone
• Benzhydrocodone
• Hydromorphone
• Meperidine
• Methadone
• Morphine
• Oxycodone
• Tapentadol

The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) clarifies that while there are questions about the effect of these flushed medicines on the environment, the FDA concludes that "the known risk of harm, including toxicity and death, to humans from accidental exposure to medicines on the flush list far outweighs any potential risk to human health and the environment from flushing these unused or expired medicines."

The Danger of Opioids

Patients are often prescribed opioids for an acute level of pain from an injury or some sort of surgical intervention. The drugs provide pain relief but also can make people feel very relaxed and calm, or euphoric. Well-meaning patients often hang onto the pills "just in case" they're needed again at another time, but this could present problems later on. Since opioids' can make individuals feel so calm and relaxed, even euphoric, an addiction can occur.

Help with Opioids Addiction

If a patient who is prescribed opioids develops an addiction, it is considered a mental health disorder and they should do more than get rid of the medication — they should also reach out for help.

Locally, patients can call the MUSC Institute of Psychiatry at 843-792-9888 for support.

Additionally, The Substance Abuse and Mental Services Administration has resources (including a free national helpline open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.

---

Kristy Brittain, PharmD, BCPS, CDE, is an MUSC Health pharmacist and associate professor practicing for over 17 years. She's passionate about community practice, ambulatory care and patient education.