How drug manufacturers like Apotex facilitate pharmaceutical disposal programs

Most of us at some point have had a doctor prescribe us a medication to treat an illness or ailment. Prescription drugs are used for a number of purposes, from quickly treating an infection or illness to managing a prolonged health issue to even maintaining a certain quality of life.

While pharmaceuticals have become nearly essential for treating certain health issues, traceable levels of pharmaceuticals have been increasingly being found in the environment, which is having a negative impact on ecosystems, waterways and animals.

The increase in traceable levels of drugs in groundwater and soil has been attributed in part to improper disposal of leftover medications.

In 2015, there were more than 429 million prescriptions given to patients across Canada.  While the majority of prescriptions are used in their entirety, the ones that aren’t completely used are often discarded in the trash or, even worse, down the toilet. http://www.canadiangenerics.ca/en/resources/market_trends.asp

Patients may think this is the wisest way  to ensure their leftover prescriptions don’t fall into the wrong hands.  However, by discarding prescription drugs into the general waste or into the sewer system, these medications can end up in the hands of children or absorbed into the water or ground.

Not unique to Canada, the issue of leftover medication disposal is a priority topic of many government health agencies, as well as the World Health Organization (WHO). A 2014 global review of pharmaceuticals in the environment, commissioned by Germany’s environment ministry, found that of the 713 pharmaceuticals that are tested for, 631 were found at levels exceeding their detection limits. http://www.bmub.bund.de/en/

These environmental contaminants were found mainly in surface waters, such as lakes and rivers, but also in groundwater, soil, manure and even drinking water of 71 countries across all of the United Nations’ five regional groups.

“It’s a real, growing problem, and it’s only going to get worse as the world’s population ages,” says Gwynne Lyons, policy director of the CHEM Trust, a UK environmental charity. http://www.pharmaceutical-journal.com/news-and-analysis/features/pharmaceuticals-in-the-environment-a-growing-problem/20067898.article

With one of the world’s fastest aging populations, Canadian pharmaceutical manufacturers have decided to become even more proactive in spreading awareness about the potential risk improperly discarded medications pose.

As part of this commitment, Canadian pharmaceutical makers have participated in a country-wide medication recycling initiative spearheaded in British Columbia in 1999. The Health Products Stewardship Association, a not-for-profit association funded and governed by the health products industry, facilitates medications return programs across the country. http://www.healthsteward.ca/

These programs offer a safe and convenient way to dispose of prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications in oral dosage form, and natural health products in oral dosage form as well.

Canada’s largest generic drug manufacturer, Apotex (http://www.apotex.ca/), is a long-term supporter and advocate of the work the Health Products Stewardship Association does in Canada. Apotex (https://www.youtube.com/user/apotexinc) is also one of the top financial supporters of all provincially regulated medications return programs. http://www.baycrest.org/care/living-at-baycrest/apotex-centre-long-term-care/

“These programs provide consumers a safe and environmentally responsible way to dispose of unused or expired household medications,” reads the company’s statement on its website. http://www.apotex.com/ca/en/about/green.asp

Advances to water treatment are helping to remove pharmaceutical pollutants from water supplies.  However, presently there is no way to remove 100 percent of contaminants. That is why it’s imperative that leftover drugs are disposed of safely, through a local medications return or recycling program.

“The most appropriate approach to minimize the presence of pharmaceuticals in drinking-water and reduce human exposure is to prevent or reduce their entry into the water environment, this can be achieved through a combination of preventive measures, including enhanced communication to the public,” notes the WHO report on pharmaceuticals in drinking water.  http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/emerging/info_sheet_pharmaceuticals/en/