We used to be told to flush the old drugs in our medicine cabinet. New research shows that traces of pharmaceuticals are turning up in water supplies and teens abuse pharmaceutical drugs more than any other illegal drug except marijana. Local 12's Deborah Dixon tells us how each of us can change that.
 
The Ohio River in Cincinnati contains traces of estrogen, cholesterol medications, and antibiotics.. that's before it goes through the granular activated carbon treatment at Greater Cincinnati Waterworks and becomes our drinking water. Bruce Whitteberry is the Treatment Supervisor at Cincinnati Water Works: "The carbon acts as a magnet.  It latches on to the pharmaceuticals and holds it onto carbon."

But Americans are taking more pills than ever. "We're concerned with increase and we might not be able to remove the drugs with carbon.  The quickest, easiest thing is to keep it out of source water to begin with."

So don't flush the pills away. Bring them to more than 20 sites in three counties on November 13th. Drop, or Dispose Responsibly of Pharmaceuticals is a collaboration of health, safety and environmental groups. The drugs will be incinerated. Cops will be at every location. "Now we know the newest, best way, safest is to take the drugs to a collection event and let us incinerate it.  Don't put it in landfill, or allow it to be abused."

Taking drugs to a drop off to be incinerated preferred but if you can't, put your drugs in kitty litter or coffee grounds when you throw them away.