Household Disposal and Recycling of Medication in Saudi Arabia: A Call for Introducing Drug Take-Back Programs

Abdulmalik Alqurshi

doi:10.4236/pp.2020.1111026

Abstract

Background: Inappropriate disposal practices of medicinal products by households can harm nature. Alternatively, passing unused medications to friends and family members can have undesirable consequences as the quality of the product is in question. Objective: To investigate the disposal and recycling practices of medicinal products by households in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire designed to investigate disposal and recycling practices aimed at households in Saudi Arabia. Phone interviews were conducted with healthcare providers from hospitals and community pharmacies as well as medical charity representatives. A thorough search (Jun-September 2020) for disposal and recycling policies was performed on the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) and the Ministry of Health websites. Results: More than 900 participants were included in this study. Approximately 40% of respondents claimed to follow the SFDA recommendations for the disposal of unwanted medications in the wastebasket, whilst ≥6% preferred disposal via the toilet. On the other hand, 10% and 5% of households donated their unwanted over-the-counter and prescription-only medication products, respectively, to a person in need, without referring to healthcare professionals. Interviews with healthcare providers and medical charities revealed no drug take-back programs were currently available for households. The SFDA website provides a brief guide on the disposal of unwanted or expired medication. Conclusions: The absence of a clear drug disposal policy for households has created a gap allowing incorrect disposal practices that may lead to harming patients and/or the environment. The launching of drug take-back programs may lead to the provision of a clear consensus of governing bodies and healthcare providers on patient guidance for a safe drug disposal policy.

Highlights

Inappropriate disposal practices of unwanted or expired medications can result in serious harm to nature, animals, and humans in turn [1] [2]
This study investigated practices of medicine disposal and recycling by households in Saudi Arabia
Disposal of medicinal products by households in Saudi Arabia include practices that may lead to harm to the patient and/or environmental damage

Summary

Introduction

Inappropriate disposal practices of unwanted or expired medications can result in serious harm to nature, animals, and humans in turn [1] [2]. Disposal of medications is generally thought of as the discarding of a medicinal product, households may pass on their previously-stored, unwanted medications to other patients such as friends and family members. Such a practice may be the result of patient non-compliance to therapy, excessive prescribing by physicians, a change in the treatment course, improvement of patient health, or their death [3] [4]. The launching of drug take-back programs may lead to the provision of a clear consensus of governing bodies and healthcare providers on patient guidance for a safe drug disposal policy

Objectives

Results

Discussion

Conclusion