Check Your Home Medicine Cabinet: Experts Warn of Common Disposal Mistakes

Many Lithuanians are holding onto more medications at home than they need, leading to a common mistake in disposal. Kristina Nemaniūtė-Gagė, chairwoman of the Lithuanian Pharmacy Association, notes that while people are becoming more aware of proper disposal methods, a significant trend shows individuals not completing their prescribed treatments. "24% of residents who have expired medications at home say they did not follow the doctor's prescribed treatment and did not finish the medications that were prescribed to them," she stated.

Compounding this, the current geopolitical climate has prompted some to stockpile medications. However, improper disposal poses environmental risks. Kotryna Žukauskaitė-Šiaučiulė from "Gamtos ateitis" emphasizes that medications are hazardous waste. Burning them in standard waste facilities may not reach the high temperatures needed for complete degradation, potentially releasing harmful substances into the air. Flushing them down the drain is also problematic, as water treatment systems may not effectively filter them out. Antibiotics, in particular, can contribute to antibiotic resistance in the environment.

Pharmacies offer free disposal services for expired medications. Residents are advised to remove medications from their original packaging, disposing of the packaging separately for recycling. Nemaniūtė-Gagė also highlighted that people sometimes overlook expiration dates, not just the printed expiry but also the period after opening. Expired drugs can be ineffective or even harmful, underscoring the importance of proper disposal. The World Health Organization estimates that over 40% of patients do not complete their prescribed treatment courses, leaving unused medications at home. This is particularly common among the elderly who often manage multiple medications for chronic conditions.

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Jeigu vaistus išmesime į mišrių atliekų konteinerius, jie tikriausiai nukeliaus į deginimą. Deja, tokio deginimo temperatūros gali nepakakti visiškai suskaidyti tabletėms ar kapsulėms. Be to, degimo metu gali išsiskirti pavojingos medžiagos.