title: Disposal practices for unused medications in New Zealand community pharmacies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  One of the recommended methods for households to dispose of unused medications in many countries is to return them to community pharmacies. However, such a practice will only reduce the environmental levels of pharmaceuticals if the medications are also disposed of and destroyed properly by the pharmacies.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study reports the results of a questionnaire sent to New Zealand community pharmacists regarding disposal practices for unused or expired medications in their workplaces.
  
  
  METHODS
  A pre-tested, self-administered questionnaire was sent to 500 randomly selected community pharmacies from all areas of New Zealand. The participants were asked how they disposed of a variety of medications. In addition, participants were also asked about whether they knew how unused medications were destroyed if their pharmacy used a third-party contractor or distributor to dispose of them.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 265 respondents, 80.4% and 61.1% respectively reported that solid and semi-solid medications were removed by contractors. However liquid and Class B controlled drugs were predominantly disposed of down the pharmacy sink. Over 60% of the participating pharmacists indicated that they believed the contractors incinerated the collected pharmaceutical waste, and over 90% of the participating pharmacists indicated their wish for a state-run disposal and destruction system.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Liquid medications and Class B controlled drugs, which were commonly reported to be disposed of down the sewage system, may increase the potential for environmental pollution by pharmaceuticals in New Zealand. There is a need for increased environmental awareness amongst community pharmacists in New Zealand.
authors: School of Pharmacy, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand. alfred.tong@otago.ac.nz
authors: Alfred Y C
authors: AY
authors: Tong
authors: Barrie M
authors: BM
authors: Peake
authors: Rhiannon
authors: R
authors: Braund
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017744:Medical Waste Disposal / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D010595:Pharmacists; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D017744:Medical Waste Disposal; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations