Pharmaceutical waste in the environment: a cultural perspective
Thomas, F
Date: 1 March 2017
Journal
Public Health Panorama
Publisher
World Health Organization
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Abstract
Introduction: There has been a significant
rise in the use of medical pharmaceuticals to
combat disease and ill‑health across the WHO
European Region. However, global estimates
suggest that over half of all medicines are
prescribed, dispensed or sold inappropriately,
and that half of all patients fail to take them
as directed. ...
Introduction: There has been a significant
rise in the use of medical pharmaceuticals to
combat disease and ill‑health across the WHO
European Region. However, global estimates
suggest that over half of all medicines are
prescribed, dispensed or sold inappropriately,
and that half of all patients fail to take them
as directed. As well as impacting negatively
on individual health, and resulting in extensive
resource waste, pharmaceutical use – and
“misuse” – can have significant adverse
repercussions on wildlife and ecosystems,
particularly when unused medicines are
disposed of inappropriately.
Methods: This paper examines the rise in
medicine (mis)use, and considers what is
known about pharmaceutical waste in the
environment. While technological responses
to alleviate the impacts of pharmaceutical
waste exist, they are costly and complex, and
do not address the root causes of the problem.
Results: This paper demonstrates how
incorporating a cultural perspective can help
us to understand not just how medicines can
be more thoughtfully disposed of, but why
particular medicines are administered to,
and consumed or disposed of by, particular
population groups in the first place.
Conclusion: Understanding the ways that
people’s perceptions, beliefs, and social
norms and values interrelate with medicine
prescribing, consumption and disposal
practice is key to alleviating medicine misuse.
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