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 …
Why Proper Disposal in Pharmaceutical Research is Extremely Important June 22, 2023 | Pharmaceutical Waste Disposal What is Pharmaceutical Research? Pharmaceutical research is a broad term encompassing the scientific investigations and studies conducted by pharmaceutical companies, research institutions, and academic laboratories to discover, develop, and evaluate new drugs. It is …
Drug Take-Back Days January 09, 2023 | Pharmaceutical Waste Disposal National Drug Take Back Days started on September 25, 2010, with the aim of offering a convenient, responsible, and secure avenue for the disposal of prescription medications. These events seek to educate the public about the potential misuse and abuse …
Disposal of Psychoactive Medications with Activated Carbon June 11, 2024 | Pharmaceutical Waste Disposal The Dilemma of Psychoactive Medications Psychoactive medications encompass a wide array of drugs designed to influence brain function, altering perception, mood, consciousness, or behavior. These include antidepressants, antipsychotics, anxiolytics, and stimulants, among others. When used …
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 …
How Does Activated Charcoal Work? May 18, 2023 | Pharmaceutical Waste Disposal How is Activated Charcoal made? Activated charcoal, activated carbon, and active carbon are all terms that can be used interchangeably. Activated charcoal is made by burning carbon rich, natural materials such as wood, coconut shells, bamboo, coal, or …
Corporate Wellness Plans Should include At-Home™ Drug Disposal July 08, 2024 | Pharmaceutical Waste Disposal Corporate wellness programs are crucial for creating and maintaining a healthy workforce. These initiatives often focus on physical fitness, mental health, and preventative care. However, there’s often an overlooked aspect that deserves attention: drug …
Long Term Care Pharmaceutical Waste Disposal Options February 5, 2024 | Pharmaceutical Waste Disposal Long-term care facilities provide crucial care to a range of populations who are unable to live independently. Long-term care facilities may provide physical and medical care, often over periods of months to years. This care typically …
The opioid crisis in America has long been an epidemic, with nearly 130 people dying every day from an opioid overdose. A key driver in the opioid epidemic is the misuse of prescription pain medication such as codeine, hydrocodone, and oxycodone. It is important for end users of this medication …
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 …
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. …
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 …
DEA Definition of Non Retrievable June 04, 2024 | Pharmaceutical Waste Disposal The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) plays a pivotal role in regulating the secure destruction of controlled substances. Among the methods endorsed by the DEA is the concept of “non-retrievable” disposal, ensuring that disposed drugs cannot be recovered or …
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 …
Navigating the Dental Industries Role in the Ongoing Opioid Challenge March 04, 2024 | Pharmaceutical Waste Disposal The Crucial Role of Dentists in the Opioid Epidemic Dentists play a pivotal role in the opioid epidemic, serving as major prescribers of pain medications for various dental and oral surgical procedures. The …
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. …
Just How Big is the Prescription Drug Water Contamination Problem? April 04, 2024 | Pharmaceutical Waste Disposal Prescription drugs play a vital role in modern healthcare, providing relief and treatment for various medical conditions. However, the improper disposal of these medications poses a significant threat to the environment and public …
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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 …
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? 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 …
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 …
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 comprehensive medication disposal handling, storage and disposal policy that is clearly communicated to all personnel. Easy to use drug disposal products …
What Are the Effects of Pharmaceutical Waste on the Environment? July 10, 2023 | Pharmaceutical Waste Disposal Pharmaceutical Waste and the Impacts on the Environment Pharmaceutical waste can have various negative effects on ecosystems when it is not properly managed. The effects of pharmaceutical waste on the environment have been …
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 …
Managing pharmaceutical waste in health care facilities and any organization which manages medications such as correctional facilities, must carefully regulate the control and disposal of pharmaceutical waste. Facilities must meet updated Drug Enforcement Administration, DEA, regulations which amend the Controlled Substances Act, as well as Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, requirements …
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 …
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 …
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 …
Controlled Substance Disposal Policy and Procedures An effective controlled substance disposal policy is mandatory to protect healthcare workers, patients and medical facilities. Healthcare workers are at an increased risk for drug diversion, a serious epidemic in the United States. Drug diversion in hospitals and healthcare facilities puts patients at risk …
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 …
The Drug Enforcement Administration, DEA, is responsible for governing the regulations related to controlled substance (CS) disposal by ultimate users and registrants. 21 Code of Federal Regulations, CFR, outlines the rules for compliant CS waste procedures in 21 CFR Parts: 1300, 1301, 1304, 1305,1307, and 1317. Institutions both public and …
Healthcare providers are faced with unique challenges when it comes to handling and disposing of pharmaceutical waste. Nurses and healthcare workers handling controlled substances have responsibilities under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) including maintaining a properly documented chain of custody. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is tasked with enforcing the …
Controlled substances (CS) used in health care systems and narcotic treatment programs pose a serious risk for drug diversion. CS diversion causes harm to the diverter and raises serious liability issues to the organization which can face significant fines for noncompliance to DEA drug disposal regulations. Drug diversion leads to …
Medication Diversion in Correctional Facilities August 7, 2023 | Pharmaceutical Waste Disposal Medication diversion in correctional facilities has become a significant concern, contributing to the overall opioid epidemic in the United States. With opioid overdose on the rise, it is crucial to address the issue of diversion within jails and …
Summary: GTC Consulting CEO Ben Mink joins us on this episode of the Pharmacy Podcast Nation to discussion Pharmaceutical Industry Compliance, Diversion Investigations, and Litigation Support sponsored by Rx Destroyer ™ which provides turnkey solutions for pharmaceutical waste disposal to a wide range of industries and facility types.
