Yes. The DEA has expanded their acceptable methods of destruction for controlled substances as long as they meet the requirements of destruction. The controlled substance is officially “destroyed” when placed into the Secure a Drug container because it is rendered non-retrievable. For expired/unused controlled substances in inventory, the customer will need to follow specific DEA requirements for destruction. Requirements vary by state.
Daniels has utilized an independent source to test a representative sample of controlled substances. The results demonstrated 99.99% deactivation after 24 hours.
Secure a Drug does NOT replace witness wasting of controlled substances. You must still continue to witness waste these medications.
No. Secure a Drug can only accept Schedule II through Schedule V substances.
Secure a Drug containers are processed at a local Daniels facility or incinerated in accordance with appropriate state and federal regulations.
No. Secure a Drug will not render a pharmaceutical to be non-RCRA hazardous. Secure a Drug does not change the hazardous characteristics of RCRA substances. A “corrosive” waste is still hazardous if placed into Secure a Drug and needs to be treated accordingly.
Secure a Drug does not meet EPA standards for hazardous waste disposal (i.e., the waste is still considered RCRA hazardous). However, it can still be used as a means to render RCRA hazardous waste non-retrievable assuming that the user is properly disposing of the full Secure a Drug container as RCRA hazardous pharmaceutical waste with its unique hazardous waste profile.
Examples include:
Chloral Hyrdrate
Fentanyl Sublingual Spray
Phenobarbital
Testosterone Gels / Solutions
Valium Injectables / Gels
Disposal requirements for controlled substances are regulated by the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and laid out inTitle 21 Part 1317 of the US Code of Federal Regulations. This law provides explicit provisions depending on whether the disposer is a DEA registrant or non-registrant as well as destruction requirements and procedures for transferring controlled substances. While there is no requirement for a specific method of destruction, the law clarifies that all controlled substances must be rendered non-retrievable in order to prevent diversion of substances to illicit activity
According to 21 CFR 1300.05, “A controlled substance is considered “non-retrievable” when it cannot be transformed to a physical or chemical condition or state as a controlled substance or controlled substance analogue. The purpose of destruction is to render the controlled substance(s) to a non-retrievable state and thus prevent diversion of any such substance to illicit purposes.”
The DEA does not endorse or support any product, but instead requires that a product used to destroy controlled substances meets the definition of “non-retrievable.” Secure A Drug does meet this definition, in that it permanently alters the substance’s physical or chemical condition or state through irreversible means and thereby renders the substance unusable for all practical purposes, and it cannot be transformed to a physical or chemical condition or state as a controlled substance or controlled substance analogue.
For expired/unused controlled substances, the registrant will need to complete a disposal log (DEA Form 41 – instructions here) and maintain that record onsite for at least two years. A copy of the DEA Form 41 can be found here. The registrant would complete a new form for each new Secure A Drug container. Official destruction of the drug occurs when it is wasted into the Secure A Drug because Secure A Drug renders the medication non-retrievable.
Be sure to check with your state board of pharmacy for local or state requirements in addition to those laid out by the DEA.
When the Secure a Drug container is full, you can safely dispose of the container into a non-hazardous or hazardous waste bin depending on the contents of the container.
Secure a Drug utilizes an activated carbon solution to render controlled substances non-retrievable. Fresh containers are placed in a locked bracket. Simply unlock the bracket and unscrew the lid, place drugs into the container, close the lid and gently shake the container. Once the substances are denatured and non-retrievable, the entire container can be picked up by your waste disposal partner and disposed of in compliance with state and federal regulations.
Containers are full once the contents reach the top of the container label. When full, replace the lid and turn to the “locked” position. Full Secure a Drug containers can be placed into appropriate pharmaceutical waste collectors consistent with waste management practices of the generator.
Yes. Medications in the form of pills, patches, liquids, and lozenges will dissolve in Secure a Drug. Please note that the outer capsule shell or patch material may remain intact, but the drug itself will be non-retrievable.
The shelf life of a Secure a Drug container is two years from its date of manufacture and one year from the date that the first controlled substance is placed into the container.
Yes. A vent is incorporated in the Secure a Drug lid with a permeable film covering the opening on the inside of the cap. This allows sufficient venting when the lid is sealed.
No. Secure a Drug does not contain a specific ipecac substance, but the activated carbon can induce vomiting.
There is no solidifier in the product.
Loose sharps
Infectious waste
Effervescent medications (e.g., antacids)
Medication Vials
Schedule I controlled substances
The top of the Secure a Drug label serves as the Fill Line.
Yes. Secure a Drug can utilize a wall bracket mounting device. The standard “Static Lock Bracket” is static, not allowing for container agitation while mounted. Additionally Daniels has a very limited quantity of Premium Locking Wall Brackets that allow for agitation of the container without removing from the mount.
The “Swing Key Bracket” allows for agitation of the activated carbon solution without removing the container from the bracket. Limited quantities of the Swing Key Lock Bracket exist; supply subject to availability or demand. The “Static Lock Wall Bracket” requires container removal for agitation.
No. The containers are engineered to safely stand on flat surfaces provided container is in a secure location
$0.02 based upon standard pricing
In most instances you must purchase a case of containers; however, the 18L product comes as a single container option only.
Yes. Minimum Order = 1 Case unless you purchase an 18L container, which comes as a single container option only.
Customers are free to purchase a sample case without any further commitment to using Secure a Drug.
Secure a Drug complements healthcare waste programs by ensuring that controlled substances are appropriately disposed of per US DEA requirements (see compliance FAQs for more info). Secure a Drug can be integrated into existing waste programs with ease since they are designed to be placed into compliant pharmaceutical waste containers when they are full. As a supplemental container designed specifically for drug denaturing, it reduces compliance risks and drug diversion risks.
Although there is a cost associated with Secure a Drug containers, proper implementation and usage of Secure a Drug significantly reduces the risk of fines associated with non-compliance with federal and state regulations. Additionally, Secure a Drug provides numerous labor- and time-saving benefits thanks to its ease-of-use and convenient placement within work areas. Secure a Drug also makes it easier for facilities to align on proper waste segregation, particularly when it comes to RCRA hazardous waste. Secure a Drug makes it easier to avoid the additional costs that come with “over-classification” of waste as RCRA hazardous by allowing for segregation of hazardous and non-hazardous controlled substances.
There is minimal training needed to install and use Secure a Drug. Thanks to its simple design, all you need to do is unlock the bracket, unscrew the lid, place drugs into the container, close the lid, and gently shake the container.
If you have issues with your subscription please reach out to hello@secureadrug.com for customer support.
If you need a refund please reach out to hello@secureadrug.com for customer support.
When pharmaceuticals are flushed down the drain, the chemical components can leech into waterways, potentially contaminating local flora and fauna as well as ground-based water supplies. Additionally, there are legal considerations: the US EPA has banned the sewering of any hazardous pharmaceuticals.
Chemical compounds found in pharmaceuticals have the potential to damage local environments when not properly disposed of. By safely denaturing the potentially harmful chemicals found in certain pharmaceuticals, Secure a Drug helps to ensure that those chemicals do not pollute environments either through disposal down a drain into local waterways or through exposure in a landfill.
