With Deterra, the process of deactivation starts immediately, but it can take time to complete. Some highly soluble drugs will dissolve and adsorb rapidly, while other less soluble drug types will take longer to dissolve and adsorb. The deactivation period varies based on volume and type of medication. As an additional safety precaution, it is important to keep Deterra out of reach of children and pets as the medication is deactivated.