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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Rx Destroyer™ 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 liquid medications. …

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 …

All healthcare facilities must have optimal policies and procedures in place for the effective segregation and disposal of medical waste.  There are many contributing factors that make safe and compliant medical waste disposal a challenge in busy, healthcare facilities. Due to the enormity and the plethora of medical waste generated …

There are many large healthcare systems with robust waste management programs across the United States.  Individual facilities may have different pharmaceutical waste disposal practices for various types of medical waste due to unique facility policies, procedures, and state regulations.  Regardless of facility or state regulations, it is helpful to segregate …

Medical waste disposal practices are regulated by the federal government under the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Medical waste disposal regulations may vary from state to state although they must be at least as stringent as federal regulations. Additionally, each healthcare institution may institute their …

Senior care nurses have busy workdays caring for elderly residents and maintaining proper records.  Maintaining a proper chain of custody of pharmaceuticals, especially controlled substances, is one of the most important tasks of nurses in any environment, including long term care (LTC).  It is critical to dispose of pharmaceuticals properly …

Many unique challenges face nurses working in correctional facilities with medication administration identified as a specialized field in correctional nursing. Many nurses who are new to working in a jail or correctional facility setting are unprepared for the breadth and scope of their responsibilities in managing medication delivery, administration and …

All controlled substances and hazardous pharmaceutical waste must be disposed of properly according to federal regulations.  Non-Regulated pharmaceutical waste that may be considered non-hazardous is a bit of a misnomer, as any pharmaceutical waste can be harmful to the environment or to people if used other than as intended.  A …

Medical waste and the proper disposal of such waste is one of the greatest challenges facing healthcare providers today.  Concerns exist with meeting all federal regulations for proper medical waste disposal as well as epidemiology, HIPAA and potential civil litigation.  Types of medical waste includes a wide variety of items …

The healthcare industry has been faced with confusing regulations regarding pharmaceutical waste management for more than a decade.  Drug disposal regulations can vary from state to state and greatly impact compliance.  Healthcare workers and nursing staff are focused on treating patients and are juggling multiple priorities. Maintaining compliance is challenging …