Knowledge, Awareness and Practice among Consumers Towards Safe Disposal of Unused and Expired Medication in Urban Area of Dehradun District

Nowadays community disposes numerous unused and expired medicines via general waste or sewerage. Expired drug causes toxicity risk which allows the active substance to undergo dreadful condition. Various agencies have given different guidelines meant for disposing of the unused and expired medications, but there exists some discrepancies among these guidelines. The present study was intended to assess the knowledge, awareness and practice among consumers towards safe disposal of unused and expired medication in Urban Area of Dehradun District. To determine the possible threat/consequence of unusual disposing of medication with respect to environment. This prospective and observational study involving with the consumer based on self structured questionnaire, which involves data related to their socio-demographic data, practice employed for the dispose, awareness related to the environmental hazards and opinion for proper disposing methods. The study was carried out in Urban Area of Dehradun district for 6 months. A total of 200 consumers were included in the study. Total of 200 participants, 18 were non-respondent. Out of 182 participants, 117(64.28%) were male while 65(35.71%) were female. Among 182 participants 64(35.16%) were from the age-group of 26-35 years. Most of the participants 79(43.40%) were having graduate in their education level. Fifty eight (31.86%) acknowledged that they keep drugs with them until expired and ninety eight (53.84%) acknowledged that they throw away expired medication in household garbage. Out of 182 participants, 174(95.60%) acknowledged that they note the expiry date on the medicines before purchasing. Sixty four (35.16%), 66(36.26%) and 75(41.20%) participants acknowledged method of disposal based on formulation type. One hundred forty seven (80.76%)participants out of 182 aware towards environmental hazards by unused and expired medication. Among 182 participants 67(36.81%) acknowledged that they utilized the take back programme that was based upon returning of unused and expired medication to the pharmacy. It was concluded in this study that practice for disposing unused and expired medications by consumers were not appropriate. Healthcare practitioners and community pharmacists should recommend guidance to educate consumers on measure medicine disposal practices.