KNOWLEDGE AND DISPOSAL PRACTICE OF UNUSED AND EXPIRED MEDICINES

Improper disposal of unused medications has been a public health problem as unused drug adversely effects on health and environment. Most medicine users are not aware of the safe disposal of unused or expired medicines. The study was to know the current knowledge of the disposal practices of unused and expired medicines. This was a descriptive cross-sectional survey conducted a structured questionnaire. The study conforms to STROBE guidelines for cross sectional study. A total of 540 valid questionnaires were returned with a response rate of 96.29%. 520 subjects satisfying both inclusion and exclusion criteria of the study were taken for data analysis. The study observation concluded that organizing seminars by government-regulated drug administration environmental scientists physicians and pharmacists might play a pivotal role in raising awareness in the community. ​Further awareness under Program on Removal of Unused Drugs (PROUD) give your unused/expired medicines a proper home and other courses on safe drug disposal practices can be a good option to educate the nation's future leaders.