Economic consequences of unused medications in Houston, Texas

BACKGROUND: It is likely that a large amount of unused and outdated medications exists in households throughout the US; however, the amount and potential costs of these medications are unknown. OBJECTIVE: To determine the amount, types, and costs of unused medications present in a neighborhood surrounding a community pharmacy in Houston, Texas. METHODS: A community trial was conducted between April and September 2002. This pilot study investigated the quantity and types of drugs returned to a community pharmacy over a 6-month period. RESULTS: During the study period, approximately 17 000 oral pills worth over $26 000 were collected in 1315 medication containers. Medications collected were from all drug classes and types (pharmaceutical samples, over-the-counter and prescription drugs). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that an enormous amount of unused medications were present in a community in the US. Community pharmacies may be an ideal venue to collect and destroy these unused drugs.