81R25161 CBE-D
By: Cook H.R. No. 1695
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, It is vital that unused prescription medicine be
properly disposed of to avoid drug diversion; and
WHEREAS, The Food and Drug Administration worked with the
White House Office of National Drug Control Policy to develop the
first consumer guidelines for proper disposal of prescription
drugs; the same disposal methods for prescription drugs apply to
over-the-counter drugs as well; and
WHEREAS, Issued in 2007, the federal guidelines warn against
flushing prescription drugs down the toilet unless the drug label
or patient information specifically says to do so; and
WHEREAS, If no instructions for the medicine are given, the
guidelines call for the drugs to be taken out of their original
containers and mixed with an undesirable substance, such as coffee
grounds or kitty litter; this way the medication will be less
appealing to children and pets and unrecognizable through the trash
bag; and
WHEREAS, The guidelines go on to recommend putting the
medicine in a sealable bag, empty can, or other container to prevent
the medication from leaking or breaking out of a garbage bag; in
addition, it is suggested that all identifying information be
removed from the container to protect one's identity and personal
health information; and
WHEREAS, Disposing of medicine in the household trash is
preferable to flushing it down the toilet because landfills are
governed by strict Environmental Protection Agency regulations to
prevent disposed items from affecting the environment; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby encourage all Texans to properly dispose of
prescription and over-the-counter drugs.