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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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. …
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 …
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 …
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 …
The National Institute for Drug Abuse estimates that nearly 130 people die each day in the U.S. due to an opioid overdose. The opioid crisis is a national epidemic that affects the health, economic and social welfare of the public. Hospitals and healthcare facilities nationwide must implement drug diversion …
Dentists play an important role in the opioid epidemic as a major prescriber of pain medications for dental and oral surgical procedures. Many people will avoid even going to the dentist from anxiety or fear. Opioid medications can help patients to feel confident in pain management and to avoid delaying …
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. …
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 …
Medical Spas, commonly referred to as Med Spas, have been gaining in popularity and offer non-surgical, spa-like cosmetic treatments. Aesthetic procedures such as laser hair removal, Botox injections, medical grade skin peels, laser vein therapy, permanent tattooed makeup and so forth are just some of the services offered at med …
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 …
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 …
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 …
According to an article in DrugTopics.com of October last year, Walmart filed a suit against the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) asking for a United States District Court judge to clarify the responsibilities and roles of pharmacies and pharmacists under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). …
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 …
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 …
Television crime dramas portray the regular planning and execution of drug busts by law enforcement, but when drugs are seized in real life what happens to all of this contraband? The circumstances surrounding the seizure such as the type and amount of drugs as well as state and federal laws …
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 …
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 Regulations. DEA Form 41 is a mandatory requirement …
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 …
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 …
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 …
Secure Disposal of Controlled Substances Is Critical The safe and secure disposal of expired medications is a key strategy to prevent drug diversion, accidental ingestion, and pollution. Rendering controlled substances non-retrievable provides for a safe and secure disposal of controlled substances and is a compliant method of destruction in accordance …
Disposal of pharmaceutical waste in dental offices is regulated as medical waste which includes emergency drugs, patient prescriptions, partially used and expired over-the-counter medications. Specific requirements vary in different states, although dental practices in California must abide by some of the strictest medical waste regulations which include the following record-keeping, …
Disposing of pharmaceutical waste properly is important to protect the environment and to prevent expired medications from falling into the wrong hands. Facilities that dispense medications must have a clear medication disposal handling, storage and disposal policy that is clearly communicated to all personnel. Easy to use drug disposal products …
Managing pharmaceutical waste is an important part of many industries that use medications such as hospitals, veterinary clinics, correctional facilities, long-term care facilities, various healthcare clinics, pharmaceutical manufacturers, pharmacies, and more. Pharmaceutical waste includes medications that are no longer needed, wanted or are expired and must be disposed of. Risks …
Pharmaceuticals improve quality of life and save the lives of millions of people every year, unfortunately this does not come without a cost. How to properly dispose of different types of pharmaceutical waste has been a problem for many years. Some of the biggest offenders that cause the most …
The rules for disposing of controlled substances have been evolving over the last couple of decades as several pieces of legislation attempt to clarify regulations, improve safety and prevent drug diversion. Drug diversion occurs when prescriptions are misused by someone for whom they were not intended. Drug diversion is a …
Millions of Americans receive prescription opioid painkillers to treat chronic pain and other medical conditions. The abuse of prescription drugs and controlled substances in particular have risen to epidemic proportions in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 232,000 people have died …
Managing pharmaceutical waste is an integral component of the pharmaceutical industry, whether referring to pharmaceutical manufacturing companies, pharmacies, or healthcare facilities where physicians manage pharmaceuticals. Pharmaceutical waste comes in many different forms including chemicals from manufacturing, expired products such as pills, strips, patches and lozenges and liquid medications. Even individual …
Pharmaceuticals are a critical element in treating patients for medical conditions in various healthcare settings such as hospitals, long-term care facilities and other medical establishments. Pharmaceuticals are used in other industries as well such as veterinary clinics and oral health care. The safe handling, management and disposal of pharmaceuticals should …
The effects of pharmaceutical waste on the environment has been an area of concern and study for several years. Pharmaceutical waste is known to pollute the environment through various means such as human and pet secretion, although this amount may be low compared to improper disposal of medications. For many …
Drug diversion in healthcare is a huge problem in the United States with an estimated one in 10 healthcare workers addicted to or abusing drugs. Drug diversion is a threat to the safety of patients, for hospital staff and facilities facing fines and serious penalties. A comprehensive Controlled Substances Diversion …
Drug diversion in healthcare is a crisis in the United States contributing to alarming statistics of substance abuse. The opioid epidemic is so severe in the U.S. that drug overdoses are now one of the most common causes of death for people under the age of 50. According to the …
What should a facility do when they discover controlled substances are lost or missing? Drug diversion in healthcare is a serious problem contributing to the opioid epidemic in the United States. Is critical that all facilities follow meticulous procedures to account for all medications, especially controlled substances. Registrants who notice …
Nursing homes, long-term care facilities and hospitals are the largest generators of pharmaceutical waste in the United States, generating more than 84,000 tons of medication waste each year, according to an article in Patient Safety and Quality Healthcare. Disposing of pharmaceutical waste and nursing homes can be complex and confusing …
Public health facilities like homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters, and crisis facilities are faced with particular challenges regarding the management and proper disposal of unused and expired pharmaceuticals. Many people that come to these public health centers are in need of healthcare and are currently taking or should be taking …
Many dentists will agree that one of the most challenging things for them to keep up with is maintaining full compliance to all regulations regarding the medication waste in dentistry. Dental offices and oral surgeons need to use a variety of medications in the course of their treatments such as …
Many steps are required to safely and legally transport and dispose of hazardous pharmaceutical waste. Who Is Responsible for Pharmaceutical Waste Compliance? Properly completing a waste profile ticket is one of the most crucial steps in pharmaceutical waste compliance of both non-hazardous and hazardous waste disposal. The profile ticket lists …
According to an article by the GRx Pharmacy Blog, The Governor of California, Gavin Newsom (D), has proposed what some may call a radical idea to help reduce the cost of prescription drugs and lower healthcare costs in general for the state. His idea is to begin a generic drug …
C2R Global Manufacturing, Inc. focuses on meeting the needs of our customers with a drug mail back disposal program that is easy to use and compliant to federal regulations. Our wide selection of drug disposal containers are available for controlled and non-controlled medications. Rx Destroyer can handle both solid and …
When disposing of or destroying unused controlled substances, the method of controlled substance destruction matters for a couple of especially important reasons. Prior to regulations issued by the Drug Enforcement Administration, DEA, and the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, flushing unused or expired medications down the drain was a typical practice …
There are many reasons why everyone should be concerned about pharmaceutical waste and compliance to safe disposal practices. Improper disposal of pharmaceutical waste causes serious contamination to the environment primarily showing up in water supplies. With the current opioid epidemic in the United States, improper disposal of controlled substances …
The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) works to reduce drug use, abuse, and the consequences associated with drug diversion as part of the Executive Office of the President of the United States. The ONDCP is tasked with leading, coordinating, developing, implementing, and assessing the U.S. drug policy. The …
It is now more important than ever before for hospitals and all healthcare facilities to follow a strict medication waste disposal policy compliant to all federal regulations. There are hefty fines facing hospitals and healthcare facilities that violate DEA Code of Federal Regulations, CFR 21 as outlined in SUBCHAPTER I, …
While every healthcare facility recognizes the importance of medical waste segregation and proper disposal, the challenges facing busy or understaffed healthcare facilities allow for unsafe, noncompliant practices to continue. Prior to the most recent DEA Code of Federal Regulations, CFR 21 effective September of 2014, and the EPA 40 CFR …
