Rapid Message Testing with Consumer Panel - Storyboards About Safe Disposal of Opioids and Other Medicines

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Some pill bottles tip over (on their own) and pills spill out on the counter.
NARRATOR: Unused medicines can spell many things.

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The spilled pills rearrange themselves to spell “RISK.”
NARRATOR: Risk, if they’re taken by someone they weren’t prescribed for.

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The spilled pills rearrange themselves to spell ‘‘DANGER.”
NARRATOR: Danger, or even death, if not taken as directed.

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The spilled pills rearrange themselves to spell “THEFT.”
NARRATOR: Theft, if a family member or visitor takes a prescription medicine to intentionally misuse it.

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NARRATOR: Unused or expired medicines may be hiding right in your home. In bathrooms, kitchens...

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NARRATOR: ... bedrooms, purses, and anywhere you store medicines.

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NARRATOR: So why put your family at risk? Safely dispose of unused or expired medicines before they can do harm. There
are multiple ways to get rid of them.

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NARRATOR: The best option is to find a drug take-back location. This could be a local pharmacy or a police station. These
take-back locations may offer on-site medicine drop-off boxes, mail-back programs, or in-home disposal products. DEA’s web
page can help you find a take-back location near you. Just enter your zip code.

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NARRATOR: If you don’t have a drug take-back location near you, check the FDA’s Flush List to see if your medicine is on it.
Medicines on the Flush List may be especially dangerous if they’re used by children, pets, or others in your home. Remember,
don’t flush any medicine unless it is on the Flush List.

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The woman pours pills into used coffee grounds in a plastic bag, then drops the bag in her trash can. She then uses a marker
to scratch out personal information from the prescription label, and throws the empty prescription bottle into a recycling bin.
NARRATOR: If you don’t have a drug take-back location nearby and your medicine is not on the Flush List, you can dispose of
it in the trash. For medicines you dispose of in the trash, FDA recommends that you mix them with an unappealing substance
such as dirt, cat litter, or used coffee grounds. Don’t crush pills. Then place the mixture in a sealed plastic bag before throwing
it away. Scratch out personal information from the prescription label on the empty packaging.

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NARRATOR: You can find complete details and instructions on safe medicine disposal. Visit www.FDA.Gov/DrugDisposal.

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