MNO
Newbie
Reged: 10/14/02
Posts: 41
Loc: West Coast USA
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A friend recently passed away. The family has asked me if I could find a place to donate his medications (he had quite a bit of various meds).
I went to Doctors Without Borders but they don't accept these kind of gifts. Then I went to my local hospital and they do not accept them either due to 'sanitation' laws. Go figure.
Anyone know how/where I could give these away? Most are for diabetes and macular degeneration. Unfortunately most of the meds are in opened bottles. HELP me help someone else!
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"The way to see by Faith is to shut the Eye of Reason" Benjamin Franklin
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Jeremiah
Agape GrandParent
Reged: 07/14/02
Posts: 705
Loc: U.S.A.
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Oh My..
My condolences for your friends passing.
That is a very kind gesture to help someone else. However(I guess you knew this was coming and I'm sorry) US Pharmaceutical Statutes forbid even 'giving' medicine to someone other than the recipient.
I'm truly sorry to dampen your generosity and compassionate nature regarding these medicines,but these rules and regs are in place for safety reasons.
God Bless,
J.
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I can't see me lovin nobody but you,for all my life
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lala
Member
Reged: 06/21/03
Posts: 140
Loc: michigan
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sorry about your friend passing.I think it's a nice gesture to want to help someone out that needs these costly meds.unfortunately,people nowadays are so leary about this kind of thing.i bet if you mentioned the fact that the meds were narcotics,pain medz,or something.i think people would not hesitate to take you upon your offer.just a little honesty. 
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lala
Member
Reged: 06/21/03
Posts: 140
Loc: michigan
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try the AMERICAN RED CROSS OR SALVATION ARMY.I think they can use them,i'm not absolutely sure,but it can't hurt to inquire.i know sometimes drs.will use them overseas on missionary trips as they provide medical services to the third world countries that are indigent.just a thought.hope it helps. 
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qbird
material girl
Reged: 09/02/02
Posts: 825
Loc: USA
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Since the meds were opened, it would probably be a health issue to try to give them away. Your heart is in the right place and it is very kind of you, but I doubt you will be able to donate them successfully.
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okiedad777
Member
Reged: 01/12/03
Posts: 136
Loc: Oklahoma
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I know of a health clinic in Arkansas. They are run by a monastary, and will probably take them. I don't know the number, but it is called Little Flowers Clinic in Eureka Springs.
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Jimbo
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Benny
Stranger
Reged: 02/07/03
Posts: 18
Loc: Australia.
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I'm in Australia, and I'm pretty sure it would be illegal for me to give prescription medication away in *any* circumstance. Even if it were legal to give them to the salvation army or something, it would be Illegal for them to give them to anyone else. This is to ensure that anyone who takes prescription meds has seen a doctor, and in theory has had all the right health checks to make sure it is safe for them to take said medication. The only thing I can do in Australia (and the only thing you're *supposed* to do) is hand them into a pharmacy for them to dispose of properly. Maybe it's different in the states, I don't know.
Sorry if this sounds harsh, I don't mean it to.. You're trying to do something kind, and that's good, but this is the way the law works here.
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jenbabe
Member
Reged: 02/04/02
Posts: 139
Loc: nashville TN
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I'm an aussie and last year in Australia when my Grandmother died of terminal cancer (we nursed her at home) the palliative care group specifically asked if they could have her left over meds for other needy patients. Even though there were over 100 amps/120mg morph plus amps of midazolam etc etc in boxes untouched the pharmacy was going to destroy them. The pharmacist aslo told us that once the scheduled meds had been dispensed that there was no paperwork on meds that were returned and destroyed - including amps of morph (they could have had one hell of a party at that pharmacy and it does happen!). As the palliative gruop is registered and highly recognised he encouraged us to donate them. might not be legal but at least sensible to recycle at least the unopened meds.
Half the pharmacies in the US remove pills from their oroginal containers into a dispensing container anyway. Theres not much difference than inspecting pills in an open bottle and rebottling them for dispensing.
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okiedad777
Member
Reged: 01/12/03
Posts: 136
Loc: Oklahoma
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That health clinic I refered to has a Doc that prescribes meds.
Just FYI
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Jimbo
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mirror
Newbie
Reged: 02/03/03
Posts: 39
Loc: USA w. of Mississippi R.
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However admirable your intentions, legitimate medical clinics just can't accept your donations of prescription medicine once it has been dispensed to a patient. A moment's reflection would show why this is the case.
When you get a prescription filled at a pharmacy, you can safely assume that, barring physician or pharmacist error (that's a topic for its own thread of discussion!), you are getting a product of highly controlled composition and quantity, and which has been handled in a more or less formal and auditable manner by authorized persons for its entire voyage from manufacturer to you. These controls ensure that you get fresh, potent, and pure medicines that meet the standards established by law.
Once medicine is dispensed, however, this controlled chain of custody ends, and formal recordkeeping stops. Medicines that have been dispensed can be improperly stored, contaminated, substituted, etc; the law does not ordinarily regulate these things once the medicine is in the patient's hands. Somebody who gets the medicine from a patient second- (or third- or fourth-...) hand is in pretty much the same position as a person buying illicit drugs drugs from a street dealer: one of great uncertainty about the product and the potency. While your intentions are much different from those of the street drug dealer, you must recognize that, in many cases, your product is the same: second-hand prescription pills of uncertain pedigree!
I hope the foregoing clarifies the logic of laws that prohibit post-retail distribution of prescription drugs. Be assured that many drug manufacturers donate large quantities of medicine (of known pedigree) to charitable health organizations -- the same organizations who would be more than happy to take donations from you as well. Of money or volunteer skills, that is!
Stay pain free!
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