prescription drug question

[LizMoonstar]

Is there any sort of way to 'recycle' prescription medications that you no longer take? I have several prescriptions that I've been switched away from, but I still have the drugs around and in safe condition/unexpired. Is there anyone, say, a charity or drugstore, that could take them, test them to make sure they're still good, and redistribute them? I don't want to have to throw away all this stuff.

[Nicole]

1. FDA has forbidden recycling drugs from consumers

but allows states to decide if they want to recycle from nursing homes and assisted-living facilities .

Oklahoma has a nursing home drug recovery system. The drugs must be in the original, sealed unit dose package so pills in an open bottle are still discarded.

On one hand I hate to see drugs that could help someone discarded. On the other hand, I wouldn't want to take drugs that were in someone else's home.