Drug hoarding in a rural community in Israel. Results of a pilot epidemiologic investigation.
The total quantity of drugs hoarded in a rural village in Israel was established as a result of a comprehensive house-to-house search. In 43 of the 44 houses in the village, hoarded drugs were found. The average number of different drugs found per household was 15.5 and the median number, 9.5. Analgesic and antipyretic drugs, topical skin preparations and antibiotics were found most frequently among a total of 166 identifiable medicines. The drugs found included 5,998 tablets and capsules, 3,327 ml of liquid preparations, 1,290 g of creams and powders and 369 suppositories and pessaries. These findings are discussed in relation to the drug expenditure of the largest Israel health insurance fund, the serious health hazards which they present, and their possible relevance to the total Israel population. The possibility of a "hoarding-prone" personality is raised.
D000700:Analgesics; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D006801:Humans; D007356:Insurance, Pharmaceutical Services; D007557:Israel; D012424:Rural Population; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*
D000700:Analgesics; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents