Storage, Reuse and Disposal Practices of Home - Stored Medicines in Urban Households in Pune, India

Abstract

Background: Improper home medicine storage is a global issue that leads to medicine wastage contributing to adverse effects. There have only been a few community-based research studies for in-home drug storage methods, reasons for use and its disposal ways among the consumers of India, until date. Methodology: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was done from April 2023 to June 2023. Data were collected by face-to-face interview of household representative using pretested structured questionnaire on medicines in households, their utilization, storage and disposal practices. Results: Most of the participants (78.3%) were educated to the level of graduation and above and their common reported source of procurement for stored medicines was doctor’s previous prescriptions (61.79%) where 42.5% of them stored medicines for anticipated future use. Commonly stored drugs in households were analgesics and antihistaminics and drugs for digestive system while only 5.3% stored antibiotics mostly for ongoing treatment. Unsafe storage practices like storing medicines without proper labelling (65%) and within reach of children (33.49%) were found in the study. Also, 42.45% participants reported to share stored medicines with family members and friends. Major practice for drug disposal was reported as throwing in household garbage (93.1%). Conclusion: In current study, 100% prevalence of in-home storage medication practices among the well-educated consumers without proper care taken for their use, storage and disposal which may pose a risk to the environment as well as humans.