(SerPIE)

Synergistic Efforts to

Reduce Pharmaceuticals

in the Environment

Contact one of the following individuals

to learn more about SerPIE.

Madison County & Statewide Dr. Karnita Golson-Garner

Alabama Cooperative Extension System P.O. Box 967

Normal, AL 35762 Office: (256) 372-8331

Dale and Houston Counties Phillip Carter

1699 Ross Clark Circle, Suite 4 Dothan, AL 36301

Office: (334) 794-4108

Elmore, Autauga and Montgomery Counties Roosevelt Robinson

Two East Office Center 400 Eastern Boulevard, Suite 107

Montgomery, AL 36117 Office: (334) 270-4133

Mobile and Baldwin Counties Denise Heubach

1070 Schillinger Road North Jon Archer Agriculture Building

Mobile, AL 36608 Office: (251) 574-8445

Morgan and Lawrence Counties Marcus Garner

13075 ALA-157, Suite 6 Moulton, AL 35650

Office: (256) 974-2464

Karnita Garner, PhD, Extension Environmental Specialist and Tamara Warren, PhD, Extension Health & Nutrition Specialist, Alabama Cooperative Extension System; Paul Okweye, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics; Sampson Hopkinson, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Alabama A&M University Published by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University and Auburn University), an equal opportunity educator and employer. This project is supported by USDA-NIFA-CBP Project (#2012-38821-20091). New, UNP-2064, July 2014

© 2014 Alabama Cooperative Extension System. All rights reserved.

What can I do to help?

UNP-2064

www.aces.edu/urban

The Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality reported that since 2002, approximately 22 million people have used pain relievers for nonmedical purposes. Many of these drugs are obtained from friends and relatives because they are easily accessible in homes.

“Be apart of the solution, not the problem!” Apply Greendocvick’s (2009) Green Strategies

Responsible Prescribing · Prescribe what is needed in small quantities · Provide education on proper disposal practices · Prescribe beginner or starter packs of medicine · Be familiar with drug eco-toxicities Responsible Disposal · Store medicine away from children and pets · Don’t flush or throw medicine away · Utilize the National Drug Take-Back Program · Utilize local pharmacy Take-Away Programs Responsible Consumption · Don’t share or sell medicine · Use medicine as directed by your physician · Purchase medicine in smaller quantities · Lock your medicine in a secure cabinet

Types of PPCPs · Prescription drugs · Over-the-counter drugs · Therapeutic drugs · Veterinary drugs · Nutraceuticals

(dietary supplements) · Fragrances · Cosmetics · Sun-screen products · Diagnostic agents

Source of PPCPs · Agribusiness · Human activity · Residue from manufacturing

pharmaceutical drugs · Residue from hospitals · Illicit drugs · Veterinary drug use

(i.e., antibiotics and steroids)

What does SerPIE offer? What is the problem?

Synergistic Efforts to Reduce Pharmaceuticals in the Environment (SerPIE) is a multidisciplinary outreach program that encourages citizens to adopt pharmaceutical best management practices. Objectives · To improve literacy concerning local environmen-

tal health issues by offering resources that enable citizens to safeguard their homes and the envi-ronment from PPCPs

· To accentuate the benefits of using safe, effective methods to dispose of expired and unwanted pharmaceuticals.

SerPIE Activities and Components · Environmental Education Workshops · Multidisciplinary Curriculum · Participation in the National Drug

Take-Back Initiative · Web-based Repository (WWR) · Research-based data and information · Science-oriented Video Collection · Training Forums for Extension Personnel · SerPIE_ASEMP Mentorship Program · Lock Your Meds Campaigns

Impact of PPCPs · Feminization and behavior

changes in fish species · Induced reproduction in

shellfish · Accumulation in crop roots,

leaves and stems (i.e., soybeans)

· Alteration of the biological activity of human cells

· Impacts on insect physiology · Antibacterial resistance in

soil microbes · Adverse, population-level

response in not-target wildlife (i.e., vultures)

Help us to

achieve zero

pharmaceutical

waste!

What’s in your soil and water?

· Pollution of soil and water resources by pharma-ceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) is a serious environmental issue.

· PPCPs are described as any product used by

individuals for personal health or cosmetic reasons or used by agribusiness to enhance the growth or health of livestock.

· PPCPs such as aspirin, caffeine, and nicotine

were discovered in waste water treatment plants more than 20 years ago. Since then, PPCPs have been detected in surface and groundwater, soils, biosolids, and drinking water worldwide.

· Individuals and animals are largely responsible

for PPCPs entering the environment through use, excretion, and improper disposal of unwanted medications via flushing or trash.

· In 2008, the Associated Press revealed that

concentrations of pharmaceutical drugs were found in the drinking water supply of nearly 41 million Americans.

· Although, the human impacts of pharmaceuti-

cals in the environment (PIE) are inconclusive, research studies indicate that outreach programs are needed to address PIE issues.

· Unless more action is taken, more and more

PPCPs will pollute the environment and will continue to be stockpiled in homes.

*References are available upon request.