Medication donation?

[flillia]

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My grandfather passed away yesterday and my grandmother doesn't know what to do about all of his leftover prescription medication. Nothing scheduled I believe, a ton of heart meds, kidney meds, diabetic supplies, eye drops, etc. Prettymuch anything that could be wrong with him was and he was on around 15 different medications.

My grandmother heard from a friend that there was an organization where she could donate his medication who would distribute it out to needy people. This seems extremely unlikely to me but then I wondered if it might work for overseas projects or something. In any case, I promised her that I'd ask a pharmacist about it. Perhaps there's something for medications that are still sealed or for his diabetes equipment?

If there isn't, do you all think that there should be? Personally, I think it's a pretty bad idea. There's no way to guarantee the age or purity of the drugs and I wouldn't want to take pills that some now dead person pawed through.

 

[SpirivaSunrise]

My grandfather passed away yesterday and my grandmother doesn't know what to do about all of his leftover prescription medication. Nothing scheduled I believe, a ton of heart meds, kidney meds, diabetic supplies, eye drops, etc. Prettymuch anything that could be wrong with him was and he was on around 15 different medications.

My grandmother heard from a friend that there was an organization where she could donate his medication who would distribute it out to needy people. This seems extremely unlikely to me but then I wondered if it might work for overseas projects or something. In any case, I promised her that I'd ask a pharmacist about it. Perhaps there's something for medications that are still sealed or for his diabetes equipment?

If there isn't, do you all think that there should be? Personally, I think it's a pretty bad idea. There's no way to guarantee the age or purity of the drugs and I wouldn't want to take pills that some now dead person pawed through.

What state? Some do have a repository program...but generally only accept sealed packaging...or single unit doses.

 

[flillia]

What state? Some do have a repository program...but generally only accept sealed packaging...or single unit doses.

Michigan

 

[OKgirl]

I know that when my father died (in Oklahoma) they told us to flush them (it was a lot of pain meds and things of that sort).

That program would seem very unsafe because they wouldn't know if you did something to the meds. It's a great concept, though.

 

[SpirivaSunrise]

I'm only familiar with repository programs in Maryland and Ohio. Other states may have programs too, but I couldn't find anything on MI when I checked the Board's website. There may be pharmacists in MI on here who know.

These programs have strict rules as to what can be re-dispensed. The drugs have to be in unopened/sealed original packaging. Then there're issues about expiration, adulteration, and so on. No controlled drugs either.

 

[pyra]

I am collecting any medical supplies for a medical mission trip to the sugar plantations in the Dominican Republic. I will be going with a team of 16 medical students and 2 physicians to run a medical clinic, public health workshops, and medical history/data collection.

The Bateyes are villages of sugar cane workers and their families. The majority of people living and working in the bateyes are Haitians who came over with the promise of work. The size of these communities and conditions are variable; however, often these villages are without running water, electricity and sanitation services. Workers are paid by pound of cane cut at incredibly low wages for long days in poor conditions. The majority of those who live in the bateyes are not citizens of the Dominican Republic, and therefore are not afforded government-sponsored health care. Furthermore, the location of the bateyes and poverty makes access to private care nearly impossible.

We will be working with the missionaries at the Good Samaritan Hospital and Haitian Missionary Baptist Church in La Romana. They have created a program where physicians, nurses, public health officials and students can set up clinics in the bateyes. The clinics and workshops are often the only contact the community has with health care professionals.

Any medication donations would be much appreciated! Contact me if you have any other questions.

 

[cycloketocaine]

I know that when my father died (in Oklahoma) they told us to flush them (it was a lot of pain meds and things of that sort).

That program would seem very unsafe because they wouldn't know if you did something to the meds. It's a great concept, though.

Actually, in Oklahoma, they can be donated. I used to volunteer at a clinic, and that is what they use. Most of the people who go to the effort to donate the meds usually aren't doing anything to them. And as for expirations, the bottle must have a label, and if it is the patient's label, we use the date on there.

 

[OKgirl]

Actually, in Oklahoma, they can be donated. I used to volunteer at a clinic, and that is what they use. Most of the people who go to the effort to donate the meds usually aren't doing anything to them. And as for expirations, the bottle must have a label, and if it is the patient's label, we use the date on there.

Maybe that wasn't well known 4 years ago. You'd think that the hospice people would know about programs such as that. I know that we had a ton of meds because they just refilled them. It can't be good to flush all those pain pills + morphine cream down the toilet. It really scares me to think of all the things that have gone into our water even though its supposed to be very clean.

 

[SpirivaSunrise]

Read this article tonight and remembered this thread from a few months ago...

‘Recycled’ medications help battle rising costs

 

[confettiflyer]

Read this article tonight and remembered this thread from a few months ago...

‘Recycled’ medications help battle rising costs

Funny I just read that.

I'm iffy on the idea, but it seems to be more positive than anything. What worries me is that conditions for meds are pretty strictly controlled but once it's in the hands of the pt, whose to say they haven't been exposed to direct sunlight, high temperatures, or high humidity?

But I guess since this is for the poor/destitute, 2nd rate storage is just fine.

 

[pharmpilot]

Funny I just read that.

I'm iffy on the idea, but it seems to be more positive than anything. What worries me is that conditions for meds are pretty strictly controlled but once it's in the hands of the pt, whose to say they haven't been exposed to direct sunlight, high temperatures, or high humidity?

But I guess since this is for the poor/destitute, 2nd rate storage is just fine.

Or put the pills in a different container.

I volunteer at a free clinic, and I have found capsules in a bottle that was labeled tablets and the dosage was not correct for the medication that was actually in the bottle. Scary.

On the other hand, the clinic relies on donated meds to help all the people it helps.

Stuck between a rock and a hard place, I would say.

 

[cas2cam]

I realize this was 3 years ago, but I have things(including medications)to donate. I want to see them go where they are needed...most places take your donations and sell them to thrift shops, and I don't want that. The ones who can't afford things like blankets, meds, toiletries...are the ones I want my donations going to. If you're not active in this anymore, do you know where I can send my donations? Any help would be apprecciated!

I am collecting any medical supplies for a medical mission trip to the sugar plantations in the Dominican Republic. I will be going with a team of 16 medical students and 2 physicians to run a medical clinic, public health workshops, and medical history/data collection.

The Bateyes are villages of sugar cane workers and their families. The majority of people living and working in the bateyes are Haitians who came over with the promise of work. The size of these communities and conditions are variable; however, often these villages are without running water, electricity and sanitation services. Workers are paid by pound of cane cut at incredibly low wages for long days in poor conditions. The majority of those who live in the bateyes are not citizens of the Dominican Republic, and therefore are not afforded government-sponsored health care. Furthermore, the location of the bateyes and poverty makes access to private care nearly impossible.

We will be working with the missionaries at the Good Samaritan Hospital and Haitian Missionary Baptist Church in La Romana. They have created a program where physicians, nurses, public health officials and students can set up clinics in the bateyes. The clinics and workshops are often the only contact the community has with health care professionals.

Any medication donations would be much appreciated! Contact me if you have any other questions.

 

[DYSF777]

I know that when my father died (in Oklahoma) they told us to flush them (it was a lot of pain meds and things of that sort).

That program would seem very unsafe because they wouldn't know if you did something to the meds. It's a great concept, though.

I'm not sure who suggested but you should never flush pills.

 

[rph3664]

Or put the pills in a different container.

I volunteer at a free clinic, and I have found capsules in a bottle that was labeled tablets and the dosage was not correct for the medication that was actually in the bottle. Scary.

On the other hand, the clinic relies on donated meds to help all the people it helps.

Stuck between a rock and a hard place, I would say.

There are a few situations where meds can be taken back and reused after they are dispensed, but they are very limited. State laws vary.

Yeah, at my last job, we got a call from a floor from a nurse who said the patient wanted to use their own meds, and sent us a Baggie with a whole mix of tablets and capsules in it, and labeled only with the patient's name. 😱 Sometimes, I wonder if that's how the patient ended up hospitalized in the first place.

 

[Dr Wario]

I'm not sure who suggested but you should never flush pills.

Actually the FDA recommends flushing controlled medications, regular medications should generally be removed from their packaging (or label removed) and secured in such a way that would prevent animals from getting to them, then thrown in the trash. Of course other option would be a state/local drug disposal program.

 

[DYSF777]

Actually the FDA recommends flushing controlled medications, regular medications should generally be removed from their packaging (or label removed) and secured in such a way that would prevent animals from getting to them, then thrown in the trash. Of course other option would be a state/local drug disposal program.

Still not suggesting flushing when there are other more appropriate ways of disposing, like maybe taking it to your pharmacy. Besides, I highly doubt a patient will make a distinction in which short list of drugs should be flushed and those that shouldn't.

 

[PharmPrincess]

I know that when my father died (in Oklahoma) they told us to flush them (it was a lot of pain meds and things of that sort).

That program would seem very unsafe because they wouldn't know if you did something to the meds. It's a great concept, though.

No on flushing meds! Think of the impact in the sewer! Like flushing antibiotics down the drain when we already have antibiotic resistance on the rise...so unneeded active or inactive meds in our sewer system is a no-no.

As far as disposing meds, I would call you public health department to find a facility to send them to or if there is no such facility, dispose meds in a container with kitty litter or ground up coffee to deter anyone from ingesting them if they were to find it in the trash.

 

[Grizaholic17]

Return Programs are in most states I thought. Many states are allowing more and more donated back medications to reduce waste. A lot of times in places like Long Term Care facilities, medications are prepared for lasting at least a month. Pharmacies are instating programs to allow returned, sealed medications because the waste is astronomical. I think it is something that needs to be instated for unopened drugs. If the meds are open, then you can not return them. It breaks the seal and the meds are technically "adulterated" at that point.

 

[All4MyDaughter]

Actually the FDA recommends flushing controlled medications, regular medications should generally be removed from their packaging (or label removed) and secured in such a way that would prevent animals from getting to them, then thrown in the trash. Of course other option would be a state/local drug disposal program.

It's not "Controlled Meds." It's a specific list of a few controlled meds that the FDA recommends flushing. I disagree with the FDA and don't think any meds should be flushed. On my last rotation we did a presentation on safe medication disposal to educate patients about better ways to dispose of unwanted medications without polluting the environment or endangering others.

 

[Sammie01]

Anyone know where opened unused meds can go to if you are in Texas? Cant find any info anywhere

 

[DYSF777]

Anyone know where opened unused meds can go to if you are in Texas? Cant find any info anywhere

What part of Texas?