Pharmaceuticals in waste-water: this is your river on drugs

The first step is admitting that you have a problem. And, Minnesotans, our beloved Mississippi River has a problem. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agencys (MPCA) recent No Drugs Down The Drain recommendations highlight the growing problem associated with pharmaceutical and other medications showing up in our waters.

Disposal of expired or unwanted medications by flushing them down the drain has been demonstrated to adversely affect fish and other wildlife. Some of these medications, such as antidepressants and others, include endocrine disrupting compounds that interfere with reproduction and normal growth in amphibians and fish.

So, please keep our river off drugs. Dispose of medications properly. The MPCA recommends sealing unused or unwanted medications and disposing them in the trash, rather than the drain. To learn more, visit MPCA's page on proper disposal of pharmaceuticals.