Medication Use and Storage, and Their Potential Risks in US Households

Suhak Lee,Jon C Schommer

doi:10.3390/pharmacy10010027

Abstract

Background: Medications stored in US households may pose risks to vulnerable populations and the environment, potentially increasing societal costs. Research regarding these aspects is scant, and interventions like medication reuse may alleviate negative consequences. The purpose of this study was to describe medications stored in US households, gauge their potential risk to minors (under 18 years of age), pets, and the environment, and estimate potential costs of unused medications. Methods: A survey of 220 US Qualtrics panel members was completed regarding medications stored at home. Published literature guided data coding for risks to minors, pets, and the environment and for estimating potential costs of unused medications. Results: Of the 192 households who provided usable and complete data, 154 (80%) reported storing a medication at home. Most medications were taken daily for chronic diseases. The majority of households with residents or guests who are minors and those with pets reported storing medications with a high risk of poisoning in easily accessible areas such as counters. Regarding risk to the aquatic environment, 46% of the medications had published data regarding this risk. For those with published data, 42% presented a level of significant risk to the aquatic environment. Unused medications stored at home had an estimated potential cost of $98 million at a national level. Implications/Conclusions: Medications stored at home may pose risks to vulnerable populations and the environment. More research regarding medications stored in households and their risks is required to develop innovative interventions such as medication reuse to prevent any potential harm.

Highlights

With the increasing use of prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications, more drug products are being accumulated in US households [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14]
Understanding the interplay between patients and their medications will clarify the types of risk that medication reuse can minimize, guide its efficient implementation, and illuminate its benefit
Various areas of medications stored at home including, the use, storage, and poisoning and environmental risk, have been discussed in this paper

Summary

Introduction

With the increasing use of prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications, more drug products are being accumulated in US households [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14]. Medications stored in US households may pose risks to vulnerable populations and the environment, potentially increasing societal costs. Research regarding these aspects is scant, and interventions like medication reuse may alleviate negative consequences. The purpose of this study was to describe medications stored in US households, gauge their potential risk to minors (under 18 years of age), pets, and the environment, and estimate potential costs of unused medications. Published literature guided data coding for risks to minors, pets, and the environment and for estimating potential costs of unused medications. Unused medications stored at home had an estimated potential cost of $98 million at a national level. Implications/Conclusions: Medications stored at home may pose risks to vulnerable populations and the environment. More research regarding medications stored in households and their risks is required to develop innovative interventions such as medication reuse to prevent any potential harm

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Discussion

Conclusion