Drug hoarding in a Jerusalem community

Abstract

We carried out a drug hoarding survey of an Israeli urban neighbourhood. Large quantities of drugs were stored by most families, particularly families with children and the elderly. The commonest drugs held were analgesics-antipyretics, but cardioactive drugs, antibiotics and cough preparations were also held in large numbers. Two-thirds of drugs held were not in current use. Drug-labelling was illegible, although most patients knew the purpose of the drugs they kept. Expiration dates were absent from most drug packages. Drug packaging and storage in families with children was generally unsafe. Physicians and pharmacists have the responsibility to educate patients to store drugs correctly and to use stored drugs safely.