Do You Check Medication Expiration Dates? Almost 70% of Public Says No

Apparently the typical American adult pays more attention to expiration dates on foods than those on drugs. Only 31% of those surveyed in a 2005 study reported they checked their medication supply yearly in order to discard outdated products. In contrast, 66% reported they regularly did the same with their refrigerators. Study respondents were asked about typical "household management" tasks, including car and wardrobe maintenance, as well as their attention to expiration dates on foods and medications. A national sample of 2,311 adults was included in the survey. Even though 61% reported they always checked the expiration dates on OTC medications, 46% reported they had taken an expired product. The study suggests that the majority of Americans may not be aware of the dates, or grasp their significance. While sources like an FDA website provide information to the public about medication storage and expiration, these findings indicate the need for increased awareness of the potential negative consequences of using expired or poorly stored medication. Harris Interactive conducted the study at the request of McNeil Consumer and Specialty Pharmaceuticals, a division of McNeil-PPC, Inc. McNeil is focusing some efforts on increasing consumer awareness of the need to regularly monitor medicine cabinet supplies, so that expired medications are replaced before they are needed. Source: Johnson & Johnson website. Press Releases. September 20, 2005. http://www.jnj.com/news/jnj_news/20050920_141045.htm Accessed Feb 15, 2006. Return to Top