by Paul Kamin, EWUA General Manager

As a society, we are consuming an ever-increasing amount of medications and other “personal care products,” such as vitamins, and supplements. While this trend has partially been credited with contributing to improved quality of life, there are some associated problems.

The FDA has stated that illegal use of prescription drugs is growing faster than any other form of drug abuse. Conversations with local doctors and law enforcement members say Orcas Island is not excluded from this trend. (See the story on prescription drug abuse trends by Marta Nielsen on A9.)

In the past year, concern about the build-up of these products in our environment has also been rising. Evidence is being discovered in water supplies across the country.

To lessen the chance for prescription medication abuse, you should not be keeping unused mediation in your medicine cabinet. In the past, the recommendation was to simply flush unused medications down the toilet. However, now that we are building a clearer link between what we flush and what we might someday drink, recommendations for how to dispose of excess, unused, or outdated medications and personal care products has changed.

The White House has issued disposal recommendations that are being supported by our local pharmacists, law enforcement, solid waste management and physicians.

• Take unused, unneeded, or expired prescription drugs out of their original containers

• Mix the prescription drugs with an undesirable substance, like used coffee grounds, kitty litter, or dirt and put them in impermeable containers, such as empty cans or sealable bags, further ensuring that the drugs are not diverted or accidentally ingested by children or pets. Throw these containers in the trash.

• Flush prescription drugs down the toilet only if the accompanying patient information specifically instructs it is safe to do so.

For more info, call Eastsound Water Users Association or visit www.eastsoundwater.org.