In a nationwide prescription drug take-back day program earlier this year, 276 tons of medicines were collected. That's 552,000 pounds of pills. Obviously, medications play an important role in our health and well-being. Sometimes our very survival depends on them. But often there are left over, unneeded, or expired prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs in our cabinets.

It is essential for our health and safety to dispose of them properly.

Very few medications come with specific instructions for leftovers to be flushed down the drain or toilet. Whereas this may seem objectionable to those who care about the environment, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration the main way drug residues enter water systems is by people taking medications and then naturally passing them through their bodies. The research seems to support the conclusion that the minimal environmental risk of flushing certain drugs is far outweighed by the real possibility of life-threatening risks from accidental ingestion of these medicines.

Recommendations for disposing medicines properly:

Do return expired or unwanted drugs to a drug take-back program, if and when available in your area. The next scheduled nationwide program is scheduled for Sept. 29. Call the Madera or Fresno County Sheriff's Department for specific location and time (see references). Look for an announcement in Sierra Star, closer to this date.

For safe household disposal, follow these steps:

Take prescription drugs out of their original containers and remove any personal information on the empty containers to protect your identity and privacy; mix the drugs with an undesirable substance, such as kitty litter or used coffee grounds; put the mixture into a disposable container with a lid, such as an empty margarine tub or a sealable bag; place the empty medicine containers and the sealed bag or margarine tub with the drug mixture into the trash.

Don't flush expired or unwanted prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs down the toilet or drain unless the label or instructions specifically instructs you to do so.

When in doubt about proper disposal, talk to your pharmacist.

Responsible disposal of medicines prevents poisoning of children and pets, and prevents illegal misuse or abuse of these pharmaceutical substances. It also helps people avoid health problems that can result from taking either the wrong medication, too much of the same medicine, or a medicine that is too old to work well.

Avoid unnecessary flushing of medications down the drain. Even though scientists to date have found no evidence of adverse human health effects from pharmaceutical residues in the environment, eliminating unnecessary addition of these residues into the water system is an earth-wise decision.

Written by Sandee Scott and submitted by Keep Our Mountains Beautiful. This monthly Sierra Star column is intended to increase awareness and provide education regarding littering, recycling and community beautification.

Written by Sandee Scott and submitted by Keep Our Mountains Beautiful. This monthly Sierra Star column is intended to increase awareness and provide education regarding littering, recycling and community beautification.