Narcotic Treatment Programs
Best Practice Guideline
ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Disposal of Medication
Question: Some methadone spilled in the NTP. How should this be reported?
Answer: When spillage of an individual patient dose occurs, the employee who spilled the medication or who witnessed a patient spilling the medication should immediately report the incident to a supervisor. The medication should then be properly disposed of. Documentation of spillage must be completed, indicating the drug, its strength and amount, and the date of spillage, and signed by both the employee involved and a supervisor. Documentation of spillage should be maintained in a readily retrievable manner and reviewed periodically to determine if a pattern is developing. Documentation of spillage does not need to be sent to the local DEA diversion field office, but should be available for inspection by DEA. [21 CFR 1304.21(a)].
Question: We have a bottle of methadone that has become contaminated. What should we do?
Answer: To obtain guidance on the destruction of any narcotic (except spills, as discussed above), contact the local DEA diversion field office listed in this manual (see Appendix D). [21 CFR 1307.21(a)].
Question: What should we do with the empty bottles of methadone/LAAM?
Answer: The bottles should be rinsed out by the dispensing nurse before being disposed of in an appropriate manner.
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