Knowledge and Disposal Practices of Unused and Expired Medications among Households in Kaduna State, North West Nigeria

Background: Improper disposal of unused and expired medications poses risks to environmental health, child safety, and antimicrobial resistance. In Nigeria, medication take-back programmes are largely absent, and community disposal practices remain unstudied in many settings. This study assessed household knowledge and practices regarding the disposal of unused and expired medications in Kaduna State. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 320 household heads in four local government areas of Kaduna State. A structured interviewer-administered questionnaire explored drug storage habits, awareness of proper disposal methods, and current disposal behaviours. Results: Knowledge of appropriate drug disposal was poor, with only 22 percent of respondents correctly identifying accepted methods. Throwing into household waste was the most common disposal practice (63%), followed by flushing down the drain (18%). Only 4 percent had ever returned medications to a pharmacy or health facility. Respondents with higher educational attainment had better disposal knowledge (p less than 0.05). Conclusion: Household drug disposal practices in Kaduna State are largely unsafe and environmentally harmful. Policy interventions including community sensitisation and the establishment of medication take-back programmes are urgently required. Keywords: medication disposal, expired drugs, households, Kaduna, environmental health