Uwanted prescriptions turning up in natural waterways

[robin_himself]

I had to laugh when I heard this.... from all the problem with drugs that we are facing.... I never thought this would be a problem


GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Wisconsin communities are holding prescription drug collections for the first time this year to prevent the medicines from entering local streams or being stolen and misused.

It's after environmental scientists are finding prescription drugs like antidepressants and pain relievers in local lakes and streams.

Researchers continue to study the long-term impact on fish and humans.

Brown County's solid waste program will hold the second collection in the state on Tuesday and Wednesday after a collection in Marshfield. Milwaukee and Madison are planning similar collections.

"People have been told to pour it down the drain or garbage because you don't want someone stealing it," said Wess Damro, the county's recycling coordinator. "But there have been surveys showing presence of drugs in what people thought were pristine waters."

Some treatment plants like Green Bay Metropolitan Sewage District are not designed to remove pharmaceutical chemicals. Drugs that are pitched in the trash can leak in landfills.

The Brown County collection is designed for residents with less than 2.2 pounds of unwanted pharmaceuticals, not for large-quantity medical facilities. The collected drugs will be incinerated.

Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District's collection is planned for Sept. 16 at Miller Park, said spokesman Bill Graffin. It's only for Milwaukee County residents.

"We don't want people flushing these drugs or pouring them down the drain until we know all the effects," Graffin said.

www.greenbaypressgazette.com

[rxbandit]

perhaps our pyschiatrists and doctors should stop perscribing unneeded medication. just last week my doctor tried to give me an antibiotic for a cough from smoking cigerettes, and he was aware id been smoking. a few days before my pyschiatrist insisted on giving me seroquil and wellbutrin for complaints of trouble focusing and staying awake... i know to argue with my doctors but most people will take what they get from these trusted figures in our society and just either discontinue or continue taking them.

[Pinkavvy]

Better living through chemicals. There are many doctors who prescribe needed medication; not all doctors are as bad as you describe yours to be rxbandit. I would recomend that you find a better doctor. Look for a wholistic paradigm when searching for a new doctor.

[INodHardOhYeah]

I hope that seroquel is helping your ability to focus and stay awake, haha.
Seriously, find a new doctor.

[Nagognog2]

I guess he was trying to help you not focus and/or stay awake - and then try to cure this with the wellbutrin?? Isn't that sort of like a firefighter who lights people's homes on fire to test his new hose?

I'd nail a dead duck to the door of his office. *< qUaCk!