In response to the growing trend among U.S. teens to abuse prescriptions drugs, rather than street drugs, the Department of Health and Human Services, along with the EPA, have issued new guidelines consumers should follow when disposing of unneeded prescription drugs.

The new federal prescription drug disposal guidelines urge Americans to:

• Take unused, unneeded, or expired prescription drugs out of their original containers

• Mix the prescription drugs with an undesirable substance, like used coffee grounds or kitty litter, and put them in impermeable, non-descript containers, such as empty cans or sealable bags, further ensuring that the drugs are not diverted or accidentally ingested by children or pets

• Throw these containers in the trash

• Flush prescription drugs down the toilet only if the accompanying patient information specifically instructs it is safe to do so

• Return unused, unneeded, or expired prescription drugs to pharmaceutical take-back locations that allow the public to bring unused drugs to a central location for safe disposal

The new guidelines, which go into effect immediately, will both help prevent abuse of these drugs, and protect the nation’s water quality, according to EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. "While EPA continues to research the effects of pharmaceuticals in water sources, one thing is clear: improper drug disposal is a prescription for environmental and societal concern," he said in a press release. "Following these new guidelines will protect our Nation's waterways and keep pharmaceuticals out of the hands of potential abusers."

The Department of Health and Human Services is a Cabinet-level, regulatory federal agency.

Also See: U.S. Teens Turning to Store-bought Highs