🟠 Moderate Evidence
A new cross-sectional study published in the Global Health Journal (2026) has documented the prevalence and determinants of expired medication use among Lebanese households, revealing significant gaps in medication disposal practices and public awareness. The research, conducted by Souraya Domiati and colleagues at institutions across Lebanon, surveyed community attitudes and behaviors around pharmaceutical expiration, highlighting a public health concern that extends beyond Lebanon to other middle-income and resource-constrained settings.
Key takeaways
- A new study from Lebanon documents widespread use of expired medications in households, driven by cost concerns and lack of disposal infrastructure
- Poor medication literacy and limited access to pharmacy take-back programs contribute to the problem
- Expired medications pose risks including reduced efficacy, potential toxicity, and environmental contamination
Study at a Glance
| Source | Global Health Journal |
| Study type | Cross-sectional survey |
| Population | Lebanese households and community members |
| Country | Lebanon |
| Publication date | 18 June 2026 |
Barriers to Proper Medication Disposal in Lebanon
Key factors contributing to expired medication use, as identified in the study
Source: Global Health Journal, 2026 | Georgian Medical Journal News
Why Expired Medications Pose Real Health Risks
Expired medications may lose potency, potentially rendering them ineffective for treating the conditions they are prescribed for. More concerning, some expired drugs can undergo chemical degradation that produces compounds that are toxic or harmful. Medications stored in suboptimal conditions—common in Lebanese households without reliable refrigeration or climate control—degrade faster than those stored in controlled pharmacy environments.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) emphasizes that using expired medications can delay diagnosis and treatment of serious conditions, particularly relevant in settings where healthcare access is already limited. Additionally, improper disposal of expired medications contaminates water systems and soil, a documented concern in the WHO’s framework on environmental health.
Structural Barriers to Safe Disposal in Lebanon
According to the research by Domiati and colleagues published in the Global Health Journal, the Lebanese community faces multiple systemic obstacles to proper medication disposal. Household medication storage practices reflect both economic pressures and the absence of organized take-back infrastructure that exists in many high-income countries.
The study identifies cost as a primary driver: households on limited incomes may retain expired medications because replacing them is financially burdensome, particularly when formal healthcare access is restricted. This pattern mirrors findings from other global health contexts where informal medication use and self-medication predominate. Without accessible, free disposal channels—such as pharmacy-led take-back programs—households resort to home storage or unsafe disposal methods.
Knowledge Gaps and Public Health Communication
The research by Domiati et al. reveals significant gaps in public understanding of medication expiration dates and associated risks. Many community members were unaware that medications continue to degrade after their labeled expiration dates or that improper storage accelerates this process. This knowledge deficit underscores the need for targeted health communication campaigns in Lebanon and similar settings.
Effective interventions, documented in health policy literature, combine education with systemic change: pharmacist-led counseling, clear labeling standards, and community-accessible disposal facilities. The Lebanese Ministry of Public Health and international partners such as the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office could coordinate multi-sector responses integrating these elements.
The study documents that expired medication use is driven by economic constraints, absent disposal infrastructure, and low awareness of health risks among Lebanese households, creating a public health challenge requiring coordinated policy intervention and community engagement.
— Souraya Domiati and colleagues, Multiple Lebanese Institutions (Global Health Journal, 2026)
What this means
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to use medications a few days or weeks after the expiration date?
No. Expiration dates indicate when manufacturers can guarantee safety and efficacy. After that date, potency degrades unpredictably and toxicity risk increases, especially for medications stored in non-ideal conditions. The FDA advises against using any expired medication, regardless of how recently it expired.
What is the safest way to dispose of expired medications at home?
Ideally, take medications to a pharmacy take-back program or a DEA drug take-back event. If unavailable, the FDA recommends mixing medications with unpalatable substances (coffee grounds, cat litter) in a sealed bag before placing in household trash, to prevent accidental ingestion. Never flush medications unless the label specifically permits it, as this contaminates water supplies.
Why is expired medication use more common in middle-income countries like Lebanon?
Cost barriers, limited access to healthcare, and absence of formal medication disposal infrastructure make expired medication use more prevalent. The Domiati study shows that economic pressures and lack of regulatory oversight combine to create conditions where household medication storage and reuse become survival strategies rather than clinical choices.
The findings from Domiati and colleagues point to a broader public health agenda for Lebanon and the Eastern Mediterranean region. Addressing expired medication use requires integrating patient education, healthcare provider training, systemic pharmacy infrastructure, and regulatory oversight. As medication access and affordability remain central challenges in resource-constrained settings, pairing these interventions with policies that reduce out-of-pocket drug costs may prove essential to shifting community practices toward safer medication management.
Source: The use and perception of expired medications among the Lebanese community
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