Storage and Disposal of Unused and Expired Drugs in a Household Setting: Narrative Review
Keywords:
Household drug disposal, disposal of expired medicines, storage of unused drugs in householdsAbstract
Background: Pharmaceutical drug waste is a global problem. Further improper disposal of expired or unused medicines is associated with environmental pollution, health hazards, and damage to the ecosystem. Ecopharmacovigilance is an important area in this context.
Objectives: Evaluating the storage and disposal of unused and expired drugs, specifically household drug disposal, expired medicine disposal, and unused drug storage in households.
Methods: This study is a narrative review aimed at evaluating the knowledge and practices regarding the storage and disposal of unused and expired drugs in a household setting. The included studies or articles were conducted between January 2012 and December 2022 in Asia, Africa, Europe, and South America.
Results: From 1455 identified studies, 21 studies met the prescribed inclusion criteria. The primary reasons people keep a stock of medicines at home are to complete an unfinished treatment or noncompliance with the regimen, ongoing treatment, giving to relatives or friends, donating, or being unaware that they have stored medicine at home. Inappropriate disposal methods, such as throwing medication in the trash or flushing it down the toilet, are standard. Some countries have implemented programs to educate people about the proper storage and disposal of medicine. Evidence suggests that public policies guiding the appropriate storage and disposal of drugs at home are needed.
Conclusion: Based on the narrative review, some countries have implemented programs to educate people about proper medicine storage and disposal. Evidence suggests that public policies guiding the appropriate storage and disposal of medicines at home are needed. The government and healthcare professionals should be more proactive in educating the public about the proper use, storage, and disposal of pharmaceutical products. The findings of this study can be used by competent authorities to implement a system and policy that encourages the public to dispose of unwanted medicines safely.
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