Pharmacy: Controlled Substances Can't be Accepted as Part of Drug Disposal Program

Many residents have taken advantage of a community pharmacy's ability to safely dispose of old medications, but the program has its limits—controlled substances are not allowed to be received.

's status as a drug disposal drop-off site has reportedly been a great boon for residents looking for a safe way to get rid of old medications, but the Wyckoff Avenue business reports that it has had to turn away customers looking to get rid of controlled substances since it started

"We've been getting tons of people bringing back their old, expired medications, which is great because it keeps it out of the water supply," said Colleen Kelley Whitcombe, marketing consultant for Miller's Pharmacy.

"But we have had to tell people we can't accept controlled substances," she said.

Miller's has been acting within the limits of the federal Responsible Drug Disposal Act, which was signed by President Obama earlier this year to create more resources for the safe disposal of drugs. Participating pharmacies are permitted to have licensed pharmacists receive medications for eventual destruction.

However, although the bill permits the receipt of controlled substances, federal regulations approved by the attorney general to guide such a program have not yet been promulgated. Miller's was initially under the impression that it could receive controlled substances in keeping with the signed legislation.

"We were a bit premature," Whitcombe said. "We just jumped the gun."

However, residents are still encouraged to bring their old or unused medications to Miller's during business hours (9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday to Friday; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday), free of charge, with no questions asked. Participants will not have to disclose their names or prescription information, Miller's president David Miller has said.

While some pharmacies charge for such a program, Whitcombe said Miller's is motivated by its "community-driven" focus. Miller's has been serving customers for more than 80 years, and David Miller is the grandson of the business founder.

"This just makes it a little bit easier (for people) to get things out of their cabinets," Whitcombe said.

Wyckoff's two Walgreens locations offer a similar service, but at a fee. The company's Safe Medication Disposal Program provides special envelopes for purchase at $2.99 each that customers can use to mail old meds to approved incinerators.

Additionally, the Wyckoff Police Department has sponsored two in recent months during which it allowed residents to anonymously drop off medications for destruction.

Chief Benjamin Fox said the department currently has no plans for another drop-off date, although the police will likely schedule such programs once or twice annually.