台灣新竹縣市廢棄藥物檢收行為與品項調查

Behavior and item survey of disposed medicines in Hsinchu, Taiwan

目標：藥物對環境造成的污染及生態改變為值得正視的問題，也是世界各國政府甚為關注之議題。各先進國家如美、英、加拿大等耗費在廢棄藥品及醫療廢棄物上的費用逐年增加。本研究目的為1.瞭解民眾對政府宣導廢棄藥物政策及處理方式的認知。2.瞭解其產出來源及種類。3.針對目前之處理機制提出建議及改善之道。方法：本研究自新竹縣市民眾至社區藥局或醫院藥局丟棄廢棄藥物者施以問卷調查，瞭解及分析藥物種類、成因及是否與醫療從業人員有關而導致的廢棄藥物。結果：年齡層與學歷於社區藥局與妥善處理廢棄藥品之認知，以71歲以上者較差；高中職以下者較佳且有顯著性差異性（p＜0.05）。年齡層與職業對家中廢棄藥物處理方式以71歲以上者較差；學生者較差且有顯著性之差異（p＜0.001）。檢收藥物數量排名以抗血栓藥Bokey（Aspirin 100 mg）最多；其次為輕瀉劑或制酸劑的MgO（Magnesium Oxide）與止痛藥Tinten（Acetaminophen 500 mg）。結論：發現在社區藥局檢收者希望居住社區可設有檢收站，檢收藥物中依數量以抗血栓、感冒、胃腸藥等最多；依金額則以抗腫瘤藥最高，未來廣設檢收點時可多了解廢棄原因以減少藥物的廢棄，並建議在用藥安全教育可帶入廢棄藥物檢收流程；於藥袋上標示藥物回收等標語，讓更多民眾了解廢棄藥物管道，以減少因錯誤處置對社會環境的傷害。

Objectives: Pharmaceutical products are serious environmental pollutants all around the world. The introduction of the National Health Insurance Program has increased public accessibility to medication in Taiwan, but it has also led to large increases in medication waste. Methods: In this study, questionnaires were distributed to people disposing of medications at community pharmacies and hospitals in the Hsinchu area of Taiwan, and the names and quantities of medicines disposed of were analyzed. Results: The respondents suggested that there should be more medicine-receiving stations, as they were concerned that incorrect disposal of medicine waste would induce environmental pollution. The count of medicines showed that the most frequently disposed of medicines were Bokey (Aspirin 100 mg), followed by MgO (Magnesium Oxide) and Titen (Acetaminophen 500 mg). Conclusions: It is suggested that it is more important to know why people dispose of medicines than to establish more receiving stations. It is also recommended that methods of dealing with unused or expired medicines should be included in school education programs about safe use of medications. This could be implemented in many ways, such as by devising slogans, making and displaying posters, and using social media such as FB, Line, blogs, and other apps to publicize correct methods of medicine disposal. It is suggested that such measures can raise public awareness, and contribute to reducing this type environmental pollution.