Unused and Expired Medicines Project
Since 2005, we have supported and participated with the Maine Benzo-diazepine Study
Group (MBSG) to investigate the public health and patient safety aspects of unused
and expired medicines (UEMs). These medicines that are often stockpiled in our homes
and workplaces over time pose serious risk to the household, community and physical
environment. UEMs may cause or contribute to the following problems:
- medication error or adverse drug interaction
- accidental poisoning among seniors, children and pets
- drug misuse and abuse (e.g. pharming among teens)
- illicit possession and drug diversion of controlled substances
- pollution or contamination of drinking water
- drug resistance in bacteria, and
- inappropriate or unethical drug donation to needy countries.
Our research team leads in the study of UEMs and established the National Unused
& Expired Medicines Registry in the fall of 2005 to systematically collect data on
UEMs from various drug take-back programs. In 2009, we conducted a national survey
of existing drug take-back initiatives and published the first National Directory
of Take-Back and Disposal Programs.
Our national outreach campaign to reduce and eliminate UEMs is called Get Rid of
Unused Pharmaceuticals (GROUP). The GROUP Manual of Procedure is available to assist
organizations in planning and implementing a successful drug take-back program.
