Aspectos ambientais do uso e descarte dos antiinflamatórios não esteroideos de amplo consumo na Colombia: realidade, problemáticas e perspectivas

Abstract

Scientific progress, allied to the increase in diseases in the modern world, creates in humanity an intense relationship between its well-being and the consumption of medicines, even more so if its effects are practically immediate. NSAIDs are called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, drugs commonly used to relieve localized pain. The most consumed NSAIDs in Colombia are ibuprofen and diclofenac, whose control and proper use can represent an environmental problem that goes beyond the current perception of its consumers. Thus, this research work has two chapters that try to demonstrate the environmental aspects, the problems and the reality of its inappropriate use and disposal in a country like Colombia. The first chapter is entitled: UNIVERSITY STUDENTS' PERCEPTIONS ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL RISK ASSOCIATED WITH THE INADEQUATE USE AND DISPOSAL OF PHARMACEUTICALS, which analyzes the perceptions of university students in southern Colombia, in the areas of health, environment and policy, on the inappropriate disposal of medications, specifically ibuprofen and diclofenac. The methodology used consisted of the application of a semi- structured questionnaire with a sample of 100 participants. Issues related to the social context, health profile and perception of environmental risk in human and ecosystem health were considered. Among the most significant results are negative attitudes such as self-medication, which affects easy access to medicines and their difficult control, and the connotation of “High Environmental Risk” in the perception of risk of ibuprofen and diclofenac. The conclusions show that there is unanimity in the perceptions among students from different areas, which can strengthen interdisciplinarity in the proper management of medicines. The second chapter, entitled: ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS OF THE INAPPROPRIATE USE AND DISPOSAL OF NSAIDs MOSTLY CONSUMED IN COLOMBIA, aimed to analyze the existing national scientific evidence on the reason for the recognition of the environmental aspects of the inappropriate use and disposal of NSAIDs in Colombia, specifically related to the consumer behavior and government control actions in the Colombian republic. A systematic review of the literature was performed, including only indexed journals, normativity and open data. Thirteen articles were selected, which met the inclusion criteria and established research questions, out of a total of 153 reviewed studies. The main studies addressed showed that in Colombia the most consumed NSAIDs are ibuprofen, diclofenac and naproxen, in turn, there is an inadequate culture of acquisition, use and final disposal of medicines, mainly associated with self-medication, interrupted use of medicines, and the lack of knowledge of the appropriate practices for its final disposal. It is important to strengthen echopharmacovigilance in Colombia, which includes protocols and education on collective health with environmental responsibility.