Impact of a Drug Take Back Day event at a large chain community pharmacy

Background

Medication accumulation is a growing public health concern associated with misuse, overdose, pollution, and wasted health care expenditures. Mitigation strategies such as Drug Take Back Day remain underutilized owing to a lack of awareness and access.

Objectives

This study aimed to analyze the quantity and characteristics of medications collected, assess donor knowledge and attitudes on safe medication disposal and reasons for medication accumulation, identify patient education opportunities, and compare data collected at 2 drug take back site locations.

Methods

Descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at 2 Drug Take Back Day events hosted by a large chain community pharmacy, 1 urban and 1 suburban. Disposed medication characteristics were recorded for the urban site only owing to restrictions from law enforcement, including product name, strength, dosage form, route of administration, category, drug class, length of treatment, condition, and controlled substance schedule. The number of donors and education brochures distributed was tracked, and medications were weighed at conclusion. A 17-question survey was offered to donors 18 years or older to assess demographics, characteristics of disposed medications, and knowledge and attitudes on safe medication disposal. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze results.

Results

A total of 311 medications were collected at the urban site. Most were expired noncontrolled prescriptions including supplements and vitamins, analgesics, and cardiovascular drugs. Forty of 246 donors completed the survey. The most identified reasons for excess medication were patient’s death, “excessive quantity,” and medication discontinuation. Eighty percent considered environmental concerns, 48% diversion prevention, and 30% fear of addiction or dependence reasons for participation. Twenty-one donors disposed of 67.8 pounds and 225 donors disposed of 600.9 pounds of medications, with 108 and 250 educational brochures distributed at urban and suburban sites, respectively.

Conclusion

Medications collected at Drug Take Back Day were expired noncontrolled prescriptions. Donors valued the environment and poison prevention over diversion and addiction concerns.