The numbers of illegal and unauthorized outlets operated by charlatans, that market drugs in Nigeria, are too many compared to pharmacies and hospitals. The trend is that a great number of drug users depends on these drug sellers for the procurement of their drugs. We surveyed the pattern of drug storage practice in homes, patent medicine stores and hospitals in Nsukka, Nigeria. We wanted to find out whether these drug outfits are suitable for drug storage; whether the drug users at home maintain proper drug storage habit suitable for the maintenance of drug integrity throughout its shelf life, and whether drug users and sellers/dispensers are knowledgeable in the issues of drug storage. The research methodology adopted was the use of questionnaires, which were distributed to 50 homes, 8 hospitals and 42 patent medicine stores in most parts of Nsukka. The information contained therein were designed in order to assess the drug storage habits of the respondents, their knowledge of storage specifications on labels, the suitability of their shop premises for the stocking and sales of drugs and whether they have some basic drug storage facilities. The results show that 90% of the people were aware that drugs could spoil. Some of the respondents keep their drugs in bags (48%), kitchen (4%), bathroom (4%), dinning table (32%), top of the refrigerator (26%) and car (14%). 56% mentioned that they did not receive instructions on how to store their drugs. Drugs were dispensed in paper envelops (68%), polyethylene materials (68%), bottles (52%) and metal containers (6%). Drug purchases were made from patent medicine stores (54%), pharmacies (76%), hospitals (50%) and drug hawkers (6%). The patent medicine store dealers had lockers (32%), refrigerators (22%), air-conditioning units (10%), and freezers (2%). It has been noted that during the afternoon, in 24% of the shops sunlight enters, and much heat is experienced by 10% of the people. 96% stock their drugs in the shop while 10% do so at home and shop. While 30% transfer drugs from original manufacturer’s container to new containers, 72% use manufacturer’s spoon, 42% any available spoon and 2% shake the drugs out of the containers.  2% of the respondents indicated that they would repackage the expired drugs. Some of the drug users and patent medicine store dealers were not actively compliant with label instructions and general requirements on storage of drugs, which portend vulnerability of these drugs to degradation and loss of potency.    

Key words: Drug storage, patent medicine stores, degradation, stability, microbial.