Pharmaceuticals and Environment: Role of Community Pharmacies

Abstract

Over the last several years, many new medications have been launched on the market and more medications have come to be consumed worldwide. At the same time, the importance of minimizing their impact on the environment has become more obvious. In fact, human and environmental health are potentially affected by each step from the production of medicines to their utilization. In this context, what are the duties of the community pharmacist? In this chapter, the magnitude of the problem of unwanted medicines and the role of community pharmacies in the waste disposal process will be discussed. This will include the collection of medicines, the education of patients regarding this collection and the appropriate use of medicines, as well as the prevention of hoarding and prescription of unwanted medicines.