INCORRECT DISPOSAL OF EXPIRED OR UNUSED MEDICINES IN THE CITY OF XANXERÊ

Abstract

The advances in science and the improvements in health will provide an increase in the production of medicines, which most of the time, after expired, are discarded in an incorrect way, most of the time in the common waste. The residues, when they come into contact as only water, can cause contamination, and even if they pass through a treatment network, they are not totally eliminated. The objective of the research was to analyze the destination that the population and the pharmacies give for expired medicines or that are not more used in the city of Xanxerê – SC. A cross-sectional study was carried out, with an intentional demonstration. Considering the criterion of exclusion of the pharmacies and the population to refuse to answer the question. It was determined as a criterion for inclusion age over 18 years. A data collection took place between February and March 2020. Foram interviewed 312 people of both sexes and 20 pharmacies. The population was asked about where to discard medicines and the damage that they can cause to the environment. The results show that the majority of people discard incorrectly, many times due to lack of information, for accommodating or for saying that there is nothing wrong in the action. It is considered that the use of medicines in an inappropriate way, as well as the discarding of two of the same ones, does not cause damage to the ecosystem and to health, many times irreversible.