Safe At-Home Medication Disposal

The Deterra^® Drug Deactivation System is a safe medication disposal pouch or container that can be used at home or in a clinical setting. It is the safest, most effective choice used to destroy and properly dispose of unused, unwanted, and expired medications with the simple addition of tap water.

Each patented Deterra Pouch contains a water-soluble inner pod containing proprietary activated carbon. To dispose of prescription or over the counter medications, a user places the drugs in the pouch and adds water, which dissolves the inner pod and releases the activated carbon. The carbon binds to the active ingredients in the medications. Once deactivated, the drugs are permanently and irreversibly destroyed, unavailable for misuse and safe for disposal in the normal trash.

To learn more about the science behind Deterra, visit our Science and Research section. For how-to videos and instructions for how to use the Deterra Drug Deactivation System to dispose of medications, visit our Resources section.

The Deterra^® Drug Deactivation System will deactivate organic medications including opioids.  However, Deterra will not adsorb biologics, such as vaccines and immunotherapeutics which are typically administered in a healthcare setting.  Additionally, inorganic medications, such as antacids, lithium and iron supplements will not be adsorbed.

If your medication has specific disposal instructions, please follow the directions as given. Consult authorities or your pharmacist for more specific questions.

With Deterra, the process of deactivation starts immediately, but it can take time to complete. Some highly soluble drugs will dissolve and adsorb rapidly, while other less soluble drug types will take longer to dissolve and adsorb. The deactivation period varies based on volume and type of medication. As an additional safety precaution, it is important to keep Deterra out of reach of children and pets as the medication is deactivated.

Based on testing, back extraction of the deactivated drugs is not effective. When used properly, the activated carbon will retain the drugs, rendering the contents of the Deterra Drug Deactivation System inert, unavailable for misuse and safe for the environment.

Adding drugs to Deterra in amounts at (or less than) our recommended capacity will result in optimal deactivation efficiency. If one were to add slightly more than the recommended pharmaceutical capacity, deactivation of additional drugs will still occur but at reduced efficiency. Please always follow the directions on the back of the Deterra Drug Deactivation System.

The water-soluble pod inside the pouch will not open and expose the carbon to the medication. Tap water will also help dissolve pills and draw the drugs out of patches. The absence of water will not allow the deactivation process to begin. Please always follow the directions on the back of the Deterra Drug Deactivation System.

The granular activated carbon used in Deterra is non-corrosive to skin and eyes. The organic carbon is considered non-flammable and stable under normal conditions for shipment, storage and use. There are no known harmful effects associated with ingestion of carbon used in Deterra; it is considered non-toxic. For more information, please see Deterra Drug Deactivation System Safety Data Sheets.

Deterra is environmentally sound through the entire product life cycle. From using 100% wind-generated power in production of the plant-based pouches to the non-toxic organic ingredients to its innovative pouch design, the product:

• Provides a convenient and immediate alternative to flushing or discarding medications and prevents still-potent drugs from contaminating our water supply and landfills through activated carbon adsorption.
• Has a smaller carbon footprint due to its plant-based packaging. The packaging is USDA Certified, 50% or more bio-based, and has received the I’m green™ plastic certification.
• Deterra Pouches are manufactured in a factory built to LEED® Silver sustainable building guidelines on equipment powered by 100% wind-generated electrical energy and are printed using an Expanded Color Gamut Process to reduce ink consumption and waste.
• Deterra 1.0 Containers are comprised of 25% Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) material.

To help educate users on the importance of proper drug disposal for the environment and how to use the Deterra^® Drug Deactivation System, we offer free educational materials for consumers and dispensers. See resources.

Deterra pouches and containers do not expire.

Deterra products do not need to be stored at a specific temperature and do not lose efficacy when stored in extreme heat or cold. However, the pouch or container may expand or contract in these conditions.