Here's more on why you don't flush drugs down the toilet. It's having tragic consequences to the flora and fauna: http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/03/11/pharma.waterfish.ap/index.html http://www.nrdc.org/onearth/06fal/waters.pdf http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bay_environment/blog/2008/03/drugs_in_drinking_water.html http://www.jcaa.org/jcnl0411/MutantFish.htm http://www.alternet.org/environment/59305/ ----- Original Message ---- From: "Pickering, Felicia" <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] Sent: Friday, May 9, 2008 10:22:11 AM Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] advice needed: old medicine Please don't routinely flush all old medications. See information below. Proper Disposal of Prescription Drugs. http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/drugfact/factsht/proper_disposal.html ________________________________ From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Rory Bialecki Sent: Friday, May 09, 2008 1:10 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] advice needed: old medicine Nikkie, Most pharmacists would tell you to simply flush the old medication down the toilet. As these are old medications, they are well beyond their expiration dates. Most medications are only good for about 2 years after their manufacture date. You could probably contact a local pharmacy with a list of names of the products and they can tell you exactly what they are and if there would be any concern with their disposal. The only issue would be controlled substances, such as morphine, laudnum, hydrocodone, etc. I would doubt that something like that was purchased for the exhibit, but you never know. I had a friend purchase a WWI Medic's kit from an antique dealer and he found the morphine and cocaine vials still filled. In this case, your local DEA office should be contacted about their disposal. The DEA only handles controlled substances though, but if you think the others might be a concern and want to go to the top agency, the FDA is where to go. Rory Bialecki -----Original Message----- From: Nikkie Cooper <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] Sent: Fri, 9 May 2008 10:33 am Subject: [MUSEUM-L] advice needed: old medicine Hello- The background: We have multiple boxes of medications that were acquired about thirty years ago for a proposed drug store exhibit that was going to accompany our soda fountain. The exhibit never came to fruition and I am now cleaning out some of the items. We are keeping some items and deaccessioning others. I need to get rid of the contents of all of the containers, since we aren't a medical museum there is no purpose in me keeping the contents, and there is potential harm in me keeping them. The question: I need a source that can help me determine how best to purge the medicines themselves. What is safe to throw away? What do I need to arrange with the local hospital for removal? And tons of other questions I don't know enough to even think of asking. Thanks for the guidance Nikkie Nikkie Cooper, Curator Fort Morgan Museum P.O. Box 184 Fort Morgan, CO 80701 970-542-4010 [log in to unmask] www.ftmorganmus.org The Fort Morgan Museum is the only AAM accredited museum on the eastern plains of Colorado, stop in and see why. ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . 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