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Nature Medicine 12, 1333 (2006)
Published online: 29 November 2006 | doi:10.1038/nm1206-1333

Rising drug costs prompt new uses for old pills

Alisa Opar1

  1. New York


Several efforts to recover unused medicines and redistribute them are under way.


Each year, Americans waste at least $1 billion worth of unused prescription drugs, flushing them down the toilet, tossing them out with the trash or letting them pile up at home.At the same time, people who desperately need those drugs go without, unable to keep up with the rising costs.