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

• 作者: Abdulmalik Alqurshi
• 来源期刊: 药理与制药(英文)
• 学科: 数学
• 关键词: Medication Disposal Medication Recycling Drug Take-Back Programs
• 年，卷（期）: 2020,（11）
• 页码范围: 316-329
• 页数: 14页
• 分类号: O17

摘要

<span style="font-family:Verdana;"><strong>Background</strong></span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">:</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> 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.</span><span style="font-family:""> </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Objective</span></b><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">:</span></b><span style="font-family:""><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> To investigate the disposal and recycling practices of medicinal products by households in Saudi Arabia. </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Methods</span></b></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">:</span><span style="font-family:""><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> 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.</span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> Results</span></b></span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">:</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> More than 900 participants were included in this study. Approximately 40% of respondents claimed to follow the SFDA recommendations for </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">the </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">disposal of unwanted medications in the wastebasket, whilst </span><span style="font-family:""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">≥</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">6% preferred disposal via the toilet. On the other hand, 10% and 5% of households donated their unwanted over-the-counter and prescription</span></span><span style="f