• Keeping medicines that we no longer need at home poses risks to our health, especially for children and pets.
• Checking the medicine cabinet regularly allows us to check expiry dates, remove medicines that are in poor condition or no longer going to be used, and dispose of them correctly through the SIGRE Point at pharmacies
• The habit of recycling medicines and their packaging through the SIGRE Point is fully established in three out of four Spanish households
There are relationships that are not healthy... such as the one that one in four households has with those medicines that have been forgotten in the medicine cabinet for years. Coinciding with Valentine's Day, a date associated with love, dating and relationships, SIGRE reminds us that in the field of health there are also ties that should not be prolonged beyond what is necessary. Especially when it comes to expired medicines or those that are no longer needed and continue to take up space in drawers and cupboards "just in case".
Although it may seem harmless, keeping medicines that we no longer need poses risks to our health, especially for children and pets. Accidental consumption, uncontrolled self-medication or misuse of antibiotics from completed treatments are some of the consequences of not regularly checking the home medicine cabinet.
Added to this is the environmental impact that can result from the incorrect disposal of this waste, such as when it is thrown in the bin or down the drain. For this reason, SIGRE insists on the importance of knowing when it is time to say goodbye to our medicines and doing so in the right way.
"The proper use of medication ends when its waste is deposited at a SIGRE collection point," says Miguel Vega, director general of SIGRE. "Checking the medicine cabinet and disposing of medicines we no longer need is a responsible decision that avoids health risks and reduces environmental impact, and is already being done in three out of four households in Spain."
Checking your medicine cabinet regularly allows you to check expiry dates, remove medicines that are in poor condition or no longer going to be used, and manage their waste correctly. All empty containers or those with traces of medicines—including blister packs, bottles, cardboard boxes, and leaflets—should be deposited at the SIGRE point in the pharmacy. This simple gesture ensures that they receive proper environmental treatment and helps prevent environmental pollution, as well as improving safety in the home.
For 25 years, thanks to the collective efforts of pharmaceutical companies, distributors, pharmacies, government agencies and citizens, a system has been fully implemented in more than 22,200 pharmacies in our country that allows the life cycle of medicines to be properly closed with all health and environmental guarantees.