title: Public practice regarding disposal of unused medicines in Ireland.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Over recent years, a global increase in the use of pharmaceutical products has been observed. EU directives state that "Member states shall ensure that appropriate collection systems are in place for medicinal products that are unused or have expired" (Directive 2001/83/EC and Directive 2004/27/EC).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  There is no published data on how people in Ireland dispose of unused medicines; therefore the purpose of this study is to establish baseline information on storage and disposal of medicines.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data was collected over two 2-week periods a year apart. People in the streets of Galway and Cork were approached randomly and invited to participate by filling out a questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The questionnaire was completed by 398 individuals (207 in Galway and 191 in Cork). Unused medicines were kept in the home by 88% of the respondents. The most cited reason for keeping unused medicines was "in case they are needed later" (68%). Of the respondents who had disposed of medicine in the past, 72% had done so inappropriately. Environmentally inappropriate disposal methods were through general waste disposal and via the sewage system. Interestingly, of the people who had received advice on disposal practices from a healthcare professional, 75% disposed of their medicine appropriately.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is little awareness among members of the public regarding appropriate ways to dispose of unused medicines. Our findings suggest that effective communication and established protocols will promote appropriate disposal practices.
authors: School of Medicine, National University of Galway, Ireland. Electronic address: Akke.vellinga@nuigalway.ie.
authors: Akke
authors: A
authors: Vellinga
authors: School of Medicine, National University of Galway, Ireland.
authors: Sarah
authors: S
authors: Cormican
authors: School of Medicine, National University of Galway, Ireland.
authors: Jacqueline
authors: J
authors: Driscoll
authors: School of Medicine, National University of Galway, Ireland.
authors: Michelle
authors: M
authors: Furey
authors: School of Medicine, National University of Galway, Ireland.
authors: Mai
authors: M
authors: O'Sullivan
authors: School of Medicine, National University of Galway, Ireland; Department of Medical Microbiology, Galway University Hospitals, Galway, Ireland. Electronic address: Martin.cormican@hse.ie.
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Cormican
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000032:analysis*; D011639:Public Opinion; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations
keywords: Disposal; Drugs; Household waste; Medicine disposal; Questionnaire; Unused medicines