That's Fit

Just pulled some prescription numbing cream out of my medicine cabinet. It expired in July 2006 -- way back when I was still receiving treatment for cancer and couldn't bear the thought of a needle piercing the skin on top of my implanted port without my Lidocaine cream generously coating the entire area. It was a lifesaver, that cream. But it's been almost two years since I've needed it, two years since it was apparently even effective. Do I really need to keep it around, then? Why, of course not. And that's why I'm about to trash it.

Do you have your own stash of old and outdated medication. If so, you should wade through it and ditch what you no longer need. Don't flush what you've got, though, unless the drug packaging specifically instructs you to do so. And don't just toss your meds in the trash can. These actions can harm the environment and your drinking water.

What should I do with my old cream then? And what should you do with your leftover stock of drugs? Here's what the Office of National Drug Control Policy says you should do. This article offers several options too. You might also look into services provided by your city or county. The City of Cleveland just hosted a medication round-up in May. And the City of San Francisco is urging its residents to safely store old drugs until drop-off sites for expired goods are established.

Tell us: What do you do?