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Expired Medication: Societal, Regulatory and Ethical Aspects of a Wasted Opportunity

Author

Listed:
  • Faez Alnahas

    (Division of Bioorganic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbruecken, Germany)

  • Prince Yeboah

    (Division of Bioorganic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbruecken, Germany)

  • Louise Fliedel

    (UTCBS (Chemical and Biological Technologies for Health Group), Faculté de Pharmacie de Paris, Université de Paris, CNRS, INSERM, 75006 Paris, France)

  • Ahmad Yaman Abdin

    (Division of Bioorganic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbruecken, Germany)

  • Khair Alhareth

    (UTCBS (Chemical and Biological Technologies for Health Group), Faculté de Pharmacie de Paris, Université de Paris, CNRS, INSERM, 75006 Paris, France)

Abstract

A massive volume of expired medications amasses annually around the world because of pharmaceutical overprescription, combined with overproduction. The accumulation of pharmaceutical waste imposes ecological, economic and social/ethical burdens. Managing this presumed “waste” has developed into a global challenge due to the absence of specific regulations, unreasonable behavior of the patients, and an improper understanding of the concept of “expired medications” in general. This paper summaries, first, the recent literature reporting practices related to the disposal of unused medications. In this context, 48 papers from 34 countries with a total of 33,832 participants point towards a significant lack of public awareness regarding the appropriate disposal of such biologically potent chemicals. These findings are corroborated by a local survey on the disposal practices of unused medicines among pharmacy students at Saarland University. The regulatory aspects surrounding this topic, often based on the official guidelines for the disposal of expired medications and local waste management strategies, are then discussed in light of these findings. Finally, a closer inspection of the epistemic values of expired medications and different strategies for managing expired medications have been reviewed.

Suggested Citation

  • Faez Alnahas & Prince Yeboah & Louise Fliedel & Ahmad Yaman Abdin & Khair Alhareth, 2020. "Expired Medication: Societal, Regulatory and Ethical Aspects of a Wasted Opportunity," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-17, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:3:p:787-:d:313415
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Xiaotan Yu & Xianmin Hu & Shulan Li & Mengya Zhang & Jun Wang, 2019. "Attitudes and Practice Regarding Disposal for Unwanted Medications among Young Adults and Elderly People in China from an Ecopharmacovigilance Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-16, April.
    2. Hui Huang & Yuyu Li & Bo Huang & Xing Pi, 2015. "An Optimization Model for Expired Drug Recycling Logistics Networks and Government Subsidy Policy Design Based on Tri-level Programming," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-14, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Kamel Mouloudj & Anuli Njoku & Dachel Martínez Asanza & Ahmed Chemseddine Bouarar & Marian A. Evans & Smail Mouloudj & Achouak Bouarar, 2023. "Modeling Predictors of Medication Waste Reduction Intention in Algeria: Extending the Theory of Planned Behavior," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(16), pages 1-18, August.
    2. Anuli Njoku & Kamel Mouloudj & Ahmed Chemseddine Bouarar & Marian A. Evans & Dachel Martínez Asanza & Smail Mouloudj & Achouak Bouarar, 2024. "Intentions to Create Green Start-Ups for Collection of Unwanted Drugs: An Empirical Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-20, March.
    3. Haneen Banjar & Rahaf Alrowithi & Sara Alhadrami & Esraa Magrabi & Reema Munshi & Mayda Alrige, 2022. "An Intelligent System for Proper Management and Disposal of Unused and Expired Medications," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-15, March.
    4. Olga Fedorowicz & Łukasz Rypicz & Anna Wiela-Hojeńska & Ewa Jaźwińska-Tarnawska & Izabela Witczak, 2022. "Application of Novel Pharmacists’ Risk in Pharmacotherapy (PHARIPH) Scale for Identification of Factors Affecting the Safety of Hospital Pharmacotherapy—An Observational Pilot Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-11, January.

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