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Medication Use and Storage, and Their Potential Risks in US Households
1College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota, 308 Harvard Street, S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
Pharmacy (Basel, Switzerland)
|February 24, 2022
Summary
Household medications pose risks to children, pets, and the environment, with unused drugs costing $98 million nationally. Further research and interventions like medication reuse are needed to mitigate these harms.
Area of Science:
- Household medication storage
- Public health risks
- Environmental impact of pharmaceuticals
Background:
- Unused medications in US households present risks to vulnerable populations and the environment.
- Limited research exists on household medication storage and its associated risks.
- Medication reuse interventions could mitigate negative consequences of unused drugs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize medications stored in US households.
- To assess risks posed by stored medications to minors, pets, and the environment.
- To estimate the financial cost of unused medications in households.
Main Methods:
- A survey of 220 US adults was conducted on home medication storage practices.
- Published literature was used to code data on risks and costs.
- Data analysis focused on risks to minors, pets, and the environment, and cost estimation.
Main Results:
- 80% of surveyed households store medications, often daily-use drugs for chronic conditions.
- Many households with minors or pets store high-risk medications in accessible locations.
- 46% of medications had environmental risk data, with 42% posing significant aquatic risks.
- Unused medications represent an estimated national cost of $98 million.
Conclusions:
- Household medication storage poses significant risks to children, pets, and the environment.
- There is a need for more research into household medication risks.
- Interventions like medication reuse are necessary to prevent harm and reduce costs.
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