In addition, the survey shows that 85% of parents in Canada do not keep their medications locked up and out of reach of their children and the elderly on a regular basis.
It is partly to remedy this situation that the ARPS is launching the campaign these days Do not throw away medications! to raise awareness among the population of the importance of returning their expired (or unused) medications and used sharp objects for medical use to collection points across the province.
“We ultimately do not have good management of medications not used at home or sharp objects,” said Alain Renard, director of Management Programs at the ARPS.
“There is this question of throwing them in the trash or the toilet, sending them into the environment or leaving them lying around. So there is both an environmental problem, but also a health problem.”
It therefore seems that, contrary to what one might believe, a majority of the population does not know that the code of ethics of pharmacists and veterinarians requires them to accept returns of medicines.
“The system is already in place, but for various reasons there is a laxity regarding it,” lamented Mr. Renard. For example, we think that natural health products are not dangerous.”
The ARPS program is also designed to recover veterinary products. The different establishments which participate will be identified with a sticker or a sign on the door. It will then be enough to return the unused products to the pharmacist or veterinarian.
Beyond the harmful effects that certain products can have on ecosystems when they enter the environment, there is an obvious risk of accidental or intentional diversion and/or poisoning if these unused medicines are recovered in public trash cans or even within private residences.
Last year, the clinical services provided by the Quebec Poison Control Center (CAPQ) revealed involuntary poisoning in half of the approximately 52,000 cases of real or feared acute toxic exposure that were evaluated and treated.
At the beginning of 2024 alone, the Quebec Poison Control Center had already recorded more than 30 deaths and approximately 800 poisonings with moderate to severe consequences that were linked to prescription or over-the-counter medications or natural health products. .
Ultimately, the program hopes to be able to recover up to 90% of the sharps placed on the market each year, which represents a weight equivalent to 25 school buses. The weight of the drugs recovered is expected to be equivalent to 20 school buses, for a combined total of approximately 700,000 kilograms.
As of July 26, 2024, the ARPS already had a thousand participating pharmacies. Towards the end of 2024, the association wishes to count on the participation of 80% of community pharmacies across the province, or 1,520 establishments, and 20% of veterinary clinics, which corresponds to around a hundred veterinary establishments.
Partnerships are also being developed to ensure that First Nations will be adequately served.
