Multi-state medication take back initiative: Controlled substances collected from 2011 to 2015

Abstract

It is important to assess which dispensed medications remain unused as accumulated home medications serve as a source for poisonings, abuse, and misuse. The objective of this study was to characterize and quantify controlled substances relinquished at community medication take back events. Medications were brought to events from 2011 to 2015 across six states. We analyzed medication classification (over-the counter, controlled, non-controlled), medication name, strength, formulation, original dispensed quantity, collected quantity, and therapeutic class. The top nine controlled therapeutic class categories are reported in this study, excluding liquid formulations. The total number of collected controlled prescriptions and units (tablets/capsules/patches) were calculated. Averages are presented for dispensed and collected quantity, and percent waste (unused) for medication categories. Over 10,270 prescriptions with 280,813 units were collected and logged. With 85 units per prescription, morphine had the greatest average originally dispensed units. Hydrocodone had the greatest quantity of prescriptions (4,717), containing 104,460 units. Pregabalin had the highest waste at 74.8%, followed by fentanyl patches (70.1%) and morphine (68.4%). Of the medications returned, more than half of the originally dispensed prescriptions for all medication categories remained unused. All aspects of controlled substance supply and demand should be scrutinized to address this public health epidemic while ensuring optimal patient care.