West Virginia MPJE (Pharmacy Jurisprudence) Practice Exam

How should leftover and used fentanyl patches be disposed of?

1. Burn them in a certified incinerator

2. Dispose of them in the household trash

3. Flush them down the toilet

4. Take them to a pharmacy for hazardous waste disposal

The correct answer is: Burn them in a certified incinerator

The correct disposal method for leftover and used fentanyl patches is to burn them in a certified incinerator. This approach is recommended because fentanyl is a potent opioid, and improper disposal can pose significant risks, such as accidental exposure or misuse. Incineration in a certified facility ensures that the substance is safely destroyed at high temperatures, eliminating any chances of it remaining viable and accessible for unauthorized use or environmental contamination. Options such as disposing of patches in household trash or flushing them down the toilet are not safe practices. Throwing them in the trash can lead to accidental ingestion by children or pets, and flushing can contribute to water pollution and harmful effects on aquatic life. While returning used patches to a pharmacy for hazardous waste disposal might seem like a responsible option, the standard practice for fentanyl disposal specifically emphasizes incineration as the most effective and safest method.