[Pharmwaste] CNN: If you flush drugs down the toilet, you could be creating 'meth gators, ' police in Tennessee say

Ed Gottlieb EGottlieb at cityofithaca.org
Tue Jul 16 10:01:24 EDT 2019


What a fantastic headline!

"If you flush drugs down the toilet, you could be creating 'meth gators,' police in Tennessee say"

https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/15/us/police-warn-flushing-drugs-create-meth-gators-trnd/index.html



For me, the final line of this story raises a question about the safe disposal of illegal drugs.

[Bcc'ed: DEA, Loretto PD, and local law enforcement]

(CNN) A Tennessee police department is warning residents to stop flushing drugs down their toilet and sinks out of fear they could create "meth gators."

"Now our sewer guys take great pride in releasing water that is cleaner than what is in the creek, but they are not really prepared for meth," according to a Loretto Police Department social media post. "Ducks, Geese, and other fowl frequent our treatment ponds and we shudder to think what one all hyped up on meth would do."
The police posted the warning to Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/242269961917/photos/a.295962761917/10156398962026918/?type=3&theater> on Saturday after officers found a suspect unsuccessfully trying to flush methamphetamine and paraphernalia at their home.
The suspect was arrested, but police say this is becoming a bigger issue for the city because drugs in the sewer system end up in retention ponds for processing before they are sent downstream.
<https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/16/health/opioid-fda-pets-bn/index.html>
Police warn that if the drugs make it far enough, they will end up being consumed by gators in Shoal Creek.
"They've had enough methed up animals the past few weeks without our help," police wrote.

Loretto Police urge residents to bring in any drugs, including prescription medication, into their offices for proper disposal instead of flushing.
Can states and/or municipalities grant relief of liability to people who deliver illegal drugs to law enforcement as unclaimed (abandoned?) property?  How many do?  I'm guessing the Loretto Police have a "no questions asked" policy around illegal drugs that are turned in.

"No questions asked" is a great law enforcement policy since the DEA does not allow illegal drug disposal through a collection receptacle, mail-back package, or take-back event.  Someone at DEA told me this is to make collection locations less of a target for theft.
"10. Can I dispose of illicit drugs through a collection receptacle, mail-back package, or take-back event? How can I safely and securely dispose of my unwanted marijuana? • No. Persons may not dispose of illicit drugs (e.g., schedule I controlled substances such as marijuana, heroin, LSD) through any of the three disposal methods. • Persons may not dispose of any controlled substances that they do not legally possess. This includes schedules II-V controlled substances that are illegally obtained and possessed." https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/fact_sheets/disposal_public_06222018.pdf
Any clarifications on the extent of, "no questions asked" policies and/or the release of liability for anyone giving law enforcement, "unclaimed property" would be appreciated.  Thanks!

Ed Gottlieb
Chair, Tompkins County Coalition for Safe Medication Disposal
Industrial Pretreatment Coordinator
Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Facility
525 3rd Street
Ithaca, NY  14850
(607) 273-8381<tel:(607)%20273-8381>

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