RFK Jr. urges Americans to dispose of medicine safely — and to not flush them

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is urging Americans to dispose of their medicine medications properly. He addressed the contented successful a video posted connected X, marking National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, which is April 26.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has acceptable up free, anonymous drop-off sites crossed the state wherever Americans tin permission their unused prescription medications. 

U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. speaks during a property league announcing of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) intent to signifier retired the usage of petroleum-based synthetic dyes successful the nation's nutrient supply, astatine the Department of Health and Human Services successful Washington, D.C., April 22, 2025.  (REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz)

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While immoderate whitethorn deliberation that flushing prescriptions down the toilet is simply a harmless alternate to throwing them distant and tin forestall radical from accidentally ingesting it, Kennedy warns that determination are dangers to that too. The HHS main explained that erstwhile flushed, the medications volition spell into the h2o system, perchance exposing anyone who drinks the h2o to those substances.

"We don’t afloat cognize the effects of debased levels of commencement power hormones oregon antibiotics oregon chemotherapy agents and truthful on, successful the water, but it’s not good," Kennedy said successful the video.

An representation of HHS Secretary nominee RFK Jr. juxtaposed adjacent to a vessel of pills made by cause manufacturers.  (iStock/Getty )

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However, determination are immoderate medications that are harmless to flush. According to the FDA’s "Flush List," determination are respective opioid medications that are harmless to flush, including Vicodin, OxyContin and Percocet. However, the FDA warns that drugs that bash not look connected its Flush List should not beryllium flushed down the toilet.

(PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)

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The DEA sees National Prescription Drug Take Back Day arsenic much than a mode for Americans to wide retired unwanted oregon unused medication. On its website advertizing the instrumentality backmost day, the DEA frames it arsenic a mode to forestall "medication misuse and opioid addiction from ever starting."

During its astir caller instrumentality backmost time successful October 2024, the DEA collected 629,953 pounds, oregon 314 tons, of medicine crossed 4,644 postulation sites.

For those who miss National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, determination are cause take-back sites unfastened year-round. The FDA provides instructions connected however to safely dispose of medications, arsenic good arsenic needles and syringes safely.