Public habits and attitudes toward disposal of unused medications and views on advanced medication take-back programs in UAE: A cross sectional study

Objective: This study aimed to assess the general population’s habits and attitudes toward disposing of expired and unused medications and evaluate their awareness of advanced medication take-back programs using an application system in the UAE. Methods: Over three months, a descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample size of 411 participants from the seven emirates of the UAE. Data were collected via an online questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS (version 28.0). Results: Half of the participants were aged 18–24, and 58% were university graduates. A total of 78.4% reported having unused medications at home. While 69.6% were unaware of pharmacists’ roles in pharmaceutical waste disposal, only 25% had received advice from healthcare professionals. The most common disposal method was throwing medications in the garbage (74%), while only 5.9% returned them to pharmacies. Notably, 77.6% expressed willingness to participate in a mail-back program for expired and unused medications. Conclusion: Implementing an online mail-back program could enhance community awareness of proper medication disposal, reduce risks associated with improper practices, and improve pharmaceutical waste management in the UAE, contributing to a healthier environment.