Another survey underscores the need for med disposal tools & awareness

According to another recently released independent consumer survey on medication disposal, most people expressed concern about the risk of child poisonings, opioid misuse and environmental pollution from keeping their leftover drugs or disposing of them improperly (e.g., garbage, toilet, sink, etc.) – and they’re looking for a convenient solution.

According to survey sponsor DisposeRx, 1,700 adults across the U.S. were polled and 700 said they had been prescribed an opioid in the past two years. And although 70 percent of respondents said they were “somewhat likely” to use drug-disposal kiosks located in pharmacies and participate in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA’s) biannual TakeBack Day, 30 percent believe these programs aren’t enough to eradicate problems associated with leftover medication.

At the beginning of the survey, conducted by research firm Brightline Strategies, 48 percent of respondents felt “very” or “extremely” concerned about the risks of unused medications in the home. That number grew, according the results, to 65 percent after learning more about the risks.

The participants learned that 60,000 children under age 5 visit the emergency department for medication poisoning from unsecured prescriptions and that measurable amounts of 25 different prescription drugs were detected in 87 percent of water samples tested by the U.S. Geological Survey. In another study of 50 wastewater treatment plants, 56 drugs were detected in the water including oxycodone, high blood pressure medications, and over-the-counter drugs. The surveyors also told participants that 70 percent of people who abuse prescription drugs stole them from friends and family. Incidentally, 37 percent of respondents with leftover medication also said they were holding onto it in case a friend or family member needed it.

“These results demonstrate that many Americans realize there is a leftover prescription problem in this country, but not enough understand the far-reaching repercussions of retaining leftover medications in their medicine cabinet,” said William Simpson, president of DisposeRx, maker of commercial and at-home medication disposal systems.  

Most people said they keep old medication in case they need it again for the same ailment. Others keep it to save money and some hold onto old meds to save the time and hassle of returning to their doctor or pharmacy. Regardless of why, the majority agreed that a home medication disposal solution could be helpful, with 71 percent saying they were “somewhat likely” to use one; 62 percent would like it to be included (at no cost) with their prescriptions.