What must be done with prescription legend drugs when a license is voluntarily surrendered?

When a pharmacy license is voluntarily surrendered, the proper course of action for prescription legend drugs is to destroy them according to established regulations. This requirement is in place to ensure that these medications do not pose a risk of misuse or exposure to the public after the pharmacy can no longer legally dispense them.

Destruction must be conducted in a manner that complies with local, state, and federal regulations to ensure safety and environmental responsibility. This process typically involves following specific protocols to safely dispose of hazardous materials and preventing any potential diversion of controlled substances.

Other options, such as returning drugs to the manufacturer or transferring them to another outlet, are generally not permitted when a license is surrendered, primarily to prevent the circulation of potentially unsafe or mismanaged medications. Donating the drugs to charity is also not a viable option due to the liability and regulatory concerns involved in ensuring the safety and appropriateness of medication distribution.