Comments on: Millions In Pills - Going Down The Drain

At Nursing Homes, Brand New Medications Flushed Away

[swwils]

What a waste of medicine.There are so many 3rd world nations,that could use that unused medication to save lives that it sickens me how wasteful this country is.I am sure that some of those people who could use some antibiotics,or other meds.they can''t afford would love to have that instead of the toilet.

[barbaraf4]

I don''t like the idea of flushing medication; however, the wasted tax dollars are not the only consideration.

The medications are entering the water tables which means they will eventually come into a kitchen near you by way of the sink faucet or your refrigerator ice maker. Just like so many other decisions made by the unqualified in this country, this one is a lulu. Some day you will need one of these meds and by then you will have developed a resistance to it.

[jjp735i]

Leave it to the federal government to find another way to waste our money. With all the screaming going on about the cost of Medicare, one would think someone in charge would look for a way to collect and pass on the unused drugs. Saving $378 million is a step in the right direction. The question is, who has the brains and the guts to tale that first step?

[bobnjersey]

[I hate to see the waste, we need a new system. Redispersing of the meds to someone else, who could use them and are on that type of med. would anger the pharmaceutical companies. They would lose out on their big kick backs.]
[Posted by bb19631 at 06:33 AM : Apr 12, 2008]

another example of how lobbyists define policy. there are more pharmaceutical lobbyists in washington than all the reps and senators combined.

[rmsdm4]

Its Bush''s fault. All hail obama.

[bb19631]

I am a nurse. We have to flush the pills down the toilet,hospital protical. It''s sad but, true. If we could only find a way to be able to keep the unopened meds,give them to the poor. Then the issue of prescribing meds without a license and dispensing without a license comes into play. We ,the nurses are only doing our jobs. I hate to see the waste, we need a new system. Redispersing of the meds to someone else, who could use them and are on that type of med. would anger the pharmaceutical companies. They would lose out on their big kick backs.

[cantshutup]

There was a newstory recently about water tests that revealed traceable levels of all types of pharmycuticals in our drinking water...all over America...WHY THE F UKKKK ARE THEY FLUSHING PILLS DOWN THE TOILET??? FLUSHING PILLS SHOULD BE A PUNISHABLE OFFENSE, I CAN''T BELIEVE THIS K RAP!!!

[stick130]

The medicine should go to City Health Clinics. The people on welfare should be allowed to bring in a prescription signed by a DR.and administered by the Nurse. People this ain''t "Rocket Sience!

[saltwkayaker]

I was equally shocked by the sheer volume of drugs going into the waste stream (from just one nursing home), which eventually finds its way into our waters and wildlife. No wonder they are finding frogs with deformities and other abnormaolities of nature! I think this story was remiss in NOT pointing out the fact that it is unhealthy to dump pharmaceuticals in the toilet and I hope CBS does a follow-up story on this angle. If the Federal government protocol for retirement/nursing homes is to dump expensive medicines under certain circumstances, at least find a better way to dump them than have them go into our public water supplies, soil and wildlife. For G'' sake, let some health agency ensure safe redistribution of the drugs to the poor and needy.

[stick130]

They could give the medications to the City Health Department. The Nurse could administer the drugs,all they would need is a prescription signed by a Doctor. This ain''t "Rocket Sience.