Return unused medicine to physicians office? DEA says it is not legal.

[cjg920]

i was asked to return my current prescription from my physician. I looked on line to see if this was legal.
I could not find answer to controlled substance disposal by a physicians office. The DEA told me it is not legal for a physician's office to dispose of controlled substances. I also read it in the DEA act.
Does the contract with the physician override the DEA?  The pain clinic told me I would not receive a prescription for another breakthrough pain medication until I gave them my current pills. Is the patient breaking the law? Is the doctor's office breaking the law? I have read in blogs it is legal. Is that because State Legislation might differ from the DEA? I can find no information. I have contacted the pain clinic about my concern. I felt really uncomfortable about this. The DEA says the physician cannot ask a patient to return their medicine after it is the property of the ultimate user, the patient. I don't like it when pain clinics do things like this.

[Poodlemom1213]

What does your pain contract say ? Most PM docs are going to destroy them in your presence and appropriate paper work filed. State laws vari. They are either a pill mill or they believe you are sketchy. This is not common practice with patients they trust. What's your beef ? If they don't work get a cop and head on over with your pills and see what happens. Something stinks here.

[remar]

Usually unused medications are returned to the pharmacy so they can dispose of them. I would think a letter from your pharmacy saying you did this would be good enough for the pain clinic. Talk to your pharmacist about all of this. I'm sure they would know what the laws are.