Medications at School: Disposing of Pharmaceutical Waste. (March 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Taras, Howard; Haste, Nina M.; Berry, Angela T.; Tran, Jennifer; Singh, Renu F.
• Is Part Of: Journal of school health. Volume 84:Number 3(2014:Mar.)
• Page Start: 160
• Page End: 167
• Publication Date: 2014-03
• Subjects: School health services -- Periodicals; School children -- Health and hygiene -- Periodicals; Health education -- Periodicals; School Health Services -- Periodicals; Health Education -- Periodicals; 371.71
• DOI: 10.1111/josh.12132
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-4391

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="josh12132-abs-0001"> <title>ABSTRACT</title> <sec id="josh12132-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>BACKGROUND</title> <p id="josh12132-para-0001">This project quantified and categorized medications left unclaimed by students at the end of the school year. It determined the feasibility of a model medication disposal program and assessed school nurses' perceptions of environmentally responsible medication disposal.</p> </sec> <sec id="josh12132-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>METHODS</title> <p id="josh12132-para-0002">At a large urban school district all unclaimed medications were collected at the end of a school year to determine the extent and nature of this problem. Nurses documented unclaimed medications and transported them to a central district location. An environmentally responsible medication disposal program, consisting of sealed containers bound for a local hospital's disposal system, was implemented.</p> </sec> <sec id="josh12132-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>RESULTS</title> <p id="josh12132-para-0003">In a school district of approximately 133, 000 students, there were 926 different medications abandoned at the end of a school year brought to a central disposal area. Nurses complied with the newly implemented protocol. Information collected from nurses indicates acceptance of the program. Disposal of unclaimed medications at a central location, use of secured containers, and transportation to a hospital for environmentally responsible disposal proved to be feasible and acceptable to the staff.</p> </sec> <sec id="josh12132-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>CONCLUSIONS</title> <p id="josh12132-para-0004">Unclaimed medications at school each year pose a potentially huge environmental risk when disposed of improperly. It is feasible to implement an environmentally responsible medication disposal protocol at schools.</p> </sec> </abstract>