In recent years, it has become increasingly apparent that the storage of expired, unwanted, or unused medications in the home presents serious public health risks. These medications can and have fallen into the hands of small children causing accidental poisoning or even death. Older children and teens may be tempted to experiment with medications causing injury to themselves and friends. In some cases, crimes may be committed to steal medications for personal use or sale. Public health risks can be reduced by minimizing the storage of medications in homes and their proper disposal.

Over the past decade there have been increased concerns associated with the disposal of medications by flushing them into the sanitary sewer system. Trace levels have been found in surface water with known or suspect impacts on wildlife and persons who consume those water supplies. While the main source of medications in sewage and ultimately in surface water is drug residues that naturally pass through the people taking the drugs, people throwing medications away by flushing them down a toilet is another way drug residues can enter our water systems. The amount of these substances in the environment can be minimized by better management and disposal practices for unused medications. Because of these concerns we offer this service to our community members at no charge. We charge facilities $9.99 per pound to accept their pharmaceutical waste. We cannot accept needles, syringes, lancets, injection pens, chemotherapy or other medical waste in the MedSafe®.

Sharps Compliance has established the MedSafe® program to strictly comply with the regulations set forth to implement the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act for 2010. When implementing the MedSafe program, all parties involved have responsibilities to ensure a successful, safe, compliant, and environmentally sustainable program. To ensure that the LTC pharmacy (authorized collector), LTCF, and Sharps Compliance comply with applicable regulations, it is imperative that all parties understand their individual responsibilities regarding management of the MedSafe program.

Each responsible party shall follow the regulations and instructions for use of the MedSafe, therefore reducing potential liability.

The MedSafe program combines the design of the industry's best collection receptacles used in law enforcement for years with the logistics and treatment capabilities of Sharps Compliance. MedSafe is designed for retail pharmacies, long-term care facilities (LTCF), hospitals or clinics with onsite pharmacies, narcotics treatment centers and licensed law enforcement. Under the Disposal Act, these location types can legally manage the disposal of ultimate user, patient dispensed controlled substances (schedules II-V) and non-controlled medications with a single solution. Under the Disposal Act, all collection receptacle programs that include the collection of controlled substances must be managed by a DEA registered collector. Now, retail pharmacies and hospitals or clinics with onsite pharmacies can manage medication collection programs at their LTCF customers' locations. Long-term care facilities can house a collection receptacle with a DEA approved collector managing the program. The collector can be a local retail pharmacy, a closed-door pharmacy that provides the location's medications or the LTCF if they have a registered on-site pharmacy.

Visit the MedSafe product page for more information.