How sustainable are daily medicine consumption practices? The case of a fragile coastal area, Arcachon Bay (SW,France)

Abstract

The potentially negative environmental effects of pesticides and antibiotics are a source of concern for public health. Many studies in recent years have focused on so-called “emerging micropollutants” emanating from domestic activity and found primarily in cleaning products, cosmetics, and medicines. This awareness of potential risks to the natural environment has evolved considerably since the 1970s. Sustained population growth in urban areas has forced public policy makers to pay more attention to the links between health and the environment, and specifically to the complexity of medicine consumption. Using a practice theory approach, this article aims to identify how sustainable daily medicine consumption practices are. Our research is based on the analysis of medicine consumption in relation to four interdependent elements: prescription, treatment, unused medication, and representations of environmental issues. First, the background of practice theory and sustainable medicine consumption are discussed. This approach is then applied to quantitative data from a questionnaire survey on consumers that we conducted in a French coastal area subject to specific demographic pressure and micropollution of the water. A multivariate statistical exploratory analysis of the data set highlights the structure of the practices concerned, and the extent to which environmental issues are considered when unused medication is disposed of. We conclude by highlighting the relevance of our approach in understanding the complex nature of sustainable medicine consumption, which involves diverse communities of practice. We also underline the need for public policy to target all stakeholders in the medicine consumption process, from medical professionals to end users.