Proper Handling of Propofol Waste: Disposal in Anesthesia Setting

Proper Handling of Propofol Waste: Disposal in Anesthesia Setting April 18, 2022 | Pharmaceutical Waste Disposal What is Propofol? Propofol, is an anesthetic that can cause relaxation and sleepiness before and during medical procedures. Also known under the brand name of Diprivan, it’s a non-barbiturate sedative used primarily by trained …

Navigating Nevada’s Medical Waste Regulations

Controlled Substance Disposal in Hospitals and the Opioid Crisis April 6, 2022 | Controlled Substance Disposal Compliance The state of Nevada can be considered quite diverse, with areas like Reno and Las Vegas, the two largest gambling meccas in the U.S. combined with sparsely populated areas. Whether a Nevada resident …

Controlled Substance Disposal in Hospitals and the Opioid Crisis

Controlled Substance Disposal in Hospitals and the Opioid Crisis March 23, 2022 | Drug Diversion Prevention The opioid crisis is an epidemic in the United States with an estimated 130 people dying every day due to an opioid overdose.  The economic burden of this national emergency is estimated by the Centers for …

Why activated charcoal works best to stop drug abuse?

Why Activated Charcoal Works Best to Stop Drug Abuse? March 9, 2022 | Drug Diversion Prevention Science made easy… Rx Destroyer™ begins dissolving medications on contact via a proprietary solvent that is a ready to use water-based solvent. The slurry’s main ingredient is an activated carbon that naturally adsorbs medication through …

How Surgical Centers & Hospitals Can Help Fight the Opioid Crisis

How Surgical Centers & Hospitals Can Help Fight the Opioid Crisis March 2, 2022 | Drug Diversion Prevention The opioid crisis in the United States is a full blown epidemic, with nearly 50,000 people having died from an opioid overdose in the U.S. in 2019 alone, according to the National …

21 CFR 1308 – Drug Diversion & The DEA

21 CFR 1308 – Drug Diversion & The DEA Feb. 23, 2022 | 21 CFR Compliance Managing pharmaceutical waste in health care facilities and any organization which manages medications, must carefully regulate the control and disposal of pharmaceutical waste.  The responsibility of safe disposal falls on the organization’s DEA Registrant. The …

Destruction of Non-Controlled Substances is Just as Important

Destruction of Non-Controlled Substances is Just as Important Feb. 3, 2022 | Pharmaceutical Waste Disposal It is important to dispose of all medications properly, including controlled and noncontrolled substances.  The United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) sponsors many National Prescription Drug Take Back days across the U.S., and many communities …

Proper Disposal in Pharmaceutical Research is Extremely Important

The healthcare system in the United States is one of the best in the world and offers success in alleviating symptoms and treating chronic and life-threatening illnesses. Hospitals, healthcare facilities and research laboratories in the U.S. are state-of-the-art and people come from around the world for treatment of various illnesses. …

2022 Drug Spending Trends For Hospitals

According to the Pharmacy Market Outlook prepared by Vizient earlier in 2021, an increase in pharmaceutical spending of 3.1% is expected for hospitals, medical centers, non-acute providers and healthcare systems throughout the upcoming year to December 2022. Vizient is a leading healthcare performance improvement company in the United States, offering …

Trends Facing Emergency Medical Services in 2022

Emergency medical technicians across the country face critical issues on a daily basis in addition to the increasing issues facing the profession. There are more than 1 million emergency responders in the United States, although according to a report published by Morning Consult, more than one in five healthcare workers …

Waste Segregation for Long Term Care Facilities

Proper waste segregation in long-term care facilities is one of the greatest challenges for these and many other healthcare facilities. A long-term care facility may be defined as different things such as a senior living community, an assisted living facility, a skilled nursing facility, a rehabilitation center, or a hospice …

Why Law Enforcement Participates in Drug Take Backs

National Drug Take Back Days started on September 25, 2010, to provide a convenient, responsible, and safe method for disposing of prescription medications, while also educating the public about the misuse and abuse potential of medications.  The most recent National Drug Take-Back Day occurred on October 23, 2021, with the …

Disposal of Psychoactive Medications with Activated Carbon

According to a study published by the National Institutes of Health in November of 2016, an activated carbon-based drug disposal system was proven to be effective for deactivation and disposal of psychoactive medications. Psychoactive drugs are prescribed for the treatment of insomnia, pain relief and as antidepressants and as mood …

Disposal Of Model Prescription Sedative Medications with Active Carbon

According to an article published with Scientific Reports in February of 2020, an evaluation of activated carbon used for the safe disposal of prescription sedative medications proved to be effective.  Scientific Reports publishes rigorously peer-reviewed research across natural sciences including engineering, psychology, and medicine. The Need For Safe And Convenient …

Incineration of Discarded Pharmaceuticals

Superior healthcare is one of the greatest benefits of living in a developed country, where the availability of pharmaceuticals treats a host of chronic illnesses and conditions to improve health and life longevity.  While the availability of both over-the-counter and prescription medications is beneficial for our well-being, there is a …

Kansas Medical Waste Regulations

The state of Kansas is home to approximately three million residents with more than 50 hospitals and surgical centers to serve the cities and towns. Every facility in each city and county is required to follow medical waste regulations including proper pharmaceutical waste disposal and documentation with cradle-to-grave traceability. Who …

Corporate Wellness Plans Should include At-Home Drug Disposal

Preventing drug use and misuse does not have to stop at the workplace, employers are realizing the benefits of helping workers to dispose of pharmaceuticals at home. How Your Wellness Plan Benefits with At-Home Drug Disposal Human Resource departments in corporations across the country are well aware of the potential …

New Pharmaceutical Waste Regulations in Effect in Washington State

New requirements for managing dangerous pharmaceutical waste went into effect on October 31, 2020, in the state of Washington under legislation WAC-173-303-555. The Department of Ecology in the state of Washington is the agency in charge of protecting the environment in the state and offers assistance to healthcare facilities to …

The Impact of Improper Drug Disposal

The hazards of improper drug disposal are catastrophic, impacting the environment, animal health and human health through poisonings and drug abuse.  When facilities or consumers dispose of medications improperly either by throwing in the trash or flushing down the drain, the negative impacts are numerous and costly.  Improper drug disposal …

Long Term Care Pharmaceutical Waste Disposal Options

Long term care facilities need an efficient and compliant method of medication disposal that meets the most recent federal regulations.  In the past, many senior living care facilities would simply flush expired medications down the drain. This practice is no longer allowed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). A Better …

Pharmaceutical Management At Healthcare Facilities

Pharmaceuticals make their way through the supply chain, landing at healthcare facilities as the last stop.  Medications are necessary to improve quality of life for  people with many conditions. Managing the supply chain of pharmaceuticals at the facility level is critical to the quality of health care that patients receive. …

Hazardous Drug Handling Protocol from USP <800>

The United States Pharmacopeia (USP) is a private, non-profit, organization although many standards issued by the USP are enforced at many regulatory agencies including the Joint Commission and individual state’s Boards of Pharmacy. The latest chapter, USP General Chapter <800>, provides standards for the safe handling of hazardous drugs in …

Getting Compliant with DEA Drug Disposal Regulations

The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) issues regulations regarding the handling and disposing of controlled substances to ensure safety to the environment and to prevent these types of drugs from falling into the wrong hands.  Healthcare facilities that must dispose of pharmaceuticals and controlled substances can face significant fines for improper …

Do Vet Clinics Have The Same Medical Waste Regulations?

Managing pharmaceutical waste is critical in any healthcare setting, including in veterinary clinics or animal hospitals.  Veterinary services are similar to human healthcare clinics which generate non-hazardous and hazardous medication waste. Biomass and pharmaceutical materials and chemicals must be segregated and disposed of properly according to all federal regulations for …

Pharma Waste Disposal: What Are the Most Important Considerations?

Pharmaceutical waste is any expired prescriptions, unused or surplus medications that can no longer be used, are no longer needed, or cannot be sold or prescribed. Pharmaceutical waste must be classified and segregated as either hazardous or non-hazardous waste which is dependent upon the characteristics of the pharmaceuticals and the …

Are Pharmaceutical Research Facilities Bound by DEA Regulations

Medical research laboratories often use controlled substances and many different pharmaceuticals during the course of research.  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) regulate safe and compliant medication waste.  The DEA has issued Code of Federal Regulations DEA 21 CFR related to compliance of medication disposal …

Waste Segregation is Key to a Successful Drug Disposal Program

Segregating pharmaceutical waste in hospitals or healthcare clinics at the source is part of a good plan for safe drug disposal that meets federal regulations.  The Drug Enforcement Administration, DEA, and the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, provide federal regulations regarding the safe and compliant handling and disposal of pharmaceutical waste. …

Know What’s Considered Regulated and Non-Regulated

All hazardous pharmaceutical waste and controlled substances must be disposed of properly according to all regulations set forth by federal regulating agencies including the Drug Enforcement Administration, DEA, and the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA.  Assuming that non-regulated pharmaceutical waste is considered non-hazardous is not completely accurate as almost any type …

21 CFR: If It’s not Documented It Didn’t Happen

Maintaining a pharmaceutical waste disposal program that meets federal regulations must comply with DEA Code of Federal Regulations, CFR, 21, 40 and 42.  These regulations pertain to the methods of drug waste disposal deemed safe and compliant by the Drug Enforcement Administration, DEA.  Every facility, DEA registrant, distributor or reverse …

Do you Know What It Takes to Be DEA Compliant?

  Maintaining a drug disposal system that is compliant to all DEA regulations is critical for facilities to prevent environmental contamination and drug diversion.  All too frequently, healthcare workers are not properly trained on drug disposal practices that meet regulatory requirements and in some cases are even instructed to dispose …

Wastewater-Based Epidemiology (WBE) Measures Opioid Use in Communities

Opioid use is an epidemic in United States and researchers are coming up with new ways to evaluate opioid use in communities.  A study published in the National Institutes of Health used robotic technology to measure levels of opioid metabolites in various manholes at 10 different sites in North Carolina. …

EPA Subpart P Adoption Dates

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) outlines in the Code of Federal Regulations, CFR 40, standards such as Part 266 regarding the Management of Specific Types of Hazardous Waste Management Facilities with Subpart P relating specifically to Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals.  The final rule titled the Management Standards for Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals …

Just How Big Is the Prescription Drug Water Contamination Problem?

Drugs like Tylenol, ibuprofen, naproxen, codeine, antidepressants, and antibiotics all have something in common, they have all been found in coastal waters, lakes, and rivers across the United States.  Scientists and U.S. geological surveys have revealed the presence of pharmaceuticals in high concentrations of parts per billion up to parts …

Challenges to Drug Management and Disposal in Prisons

Managing medications in jails and correctional facilities is a challenging task for nurses and medical staff.  Add to that the many prescriptions that are given to inmates to self-administer as Keep-on-Person (KOP) medications and correctional nurses face many additional challenges. KOP Medications and Tips for Correctional Facility Nurses Administering medications …

Segregating Pharmaceutical Waste In Long Term Care Facilities

Long-term care facilities can include a skilled nursing facility, an assisted living facility, a rehabilitation center, senior living, or hospice care.  These types of facilities can face challenges with properly segregating pharmaceutical waste for compliant medication waste disposal.  Long-term care facilities generate the same types of medical waste as hospitals …

How Can I Order the Rx Destroyer System for My Facility?

Rx Destroyer™ is the safe and easy to use pharmaceutical waste disposal system that meets the needs of many industries where prescription medications are used.  No longer can facilities flush most medications down the drain as a means to dispose of expired or unused prescriptions. Facilities that dispose of pharmaceuticals …

Improper Pharmaceutical Waste Disposal Will Cost You

Improperly disposing of pharmaceuticals creates potentially dangerous consequences with one of the greatest threats causing danger to humans and animals. Improper pharmaceutical waste disposal also causes staggering consequences to the environment. Improper handling, storage or disposal of pharmaceutical waste creates hazards within the workplace as well as safety hazards to …

OSHA Guidelines for Medical Waste

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) does not regulate the final disposal of medical waste, although the Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens Standard created in 1991 has specific requirements regarding specific types of waste.  The purpose of the standard is to protect the more than 5.6 million healthcare workers …

Which Form Documents the Destruction of Controlled Substances

Which Form Documents the Destruction of Controlled Substances? Many federal and state rules apply to the administration, management, storage, and destruction of controlled substances. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), outlines the regulations that govern disposal of controlled substances by ultimate users and registrants in DEA 21 CFR, Code of Federal …

Challenges to Cost-Effective Medication Management in Correctional Facilities

Administering medication in any clinical setting comes with several challenges and risks such as opportunities for error, drug diversion and cost constraints.  Managing medication in a jail or prison is even more challenging for nurses and medical staff.  Medication management in correctional facilities requires daily administration of drugs to thousands …

Diversion of Controlled Drugs from Hospitals

The diversion of controlled drugs from hospitals has been a rising problem across the United States and Canada with hospitals feeling pressure to implement safeguards that prevent drug diversion. According to the International Narcotics Control Board, the United States and Canada are the two highest consumers per capita of opioids …

Veterinary Handling, Storage and Disposal of Controlled Substances

Prescription medications including controlled substances can help people and animals when they are used correctly. These same medications can be extremely dangerous to humans and animals if they are handled, stored, or disposed of improperly. Veterinary practices as well as animal hospitals, zoos and animal clinics must follow strict policies …