[Pharmwaste] take back program in Colorado -- and the DEA...

[John Gohlke]

Ann, on August 19, 2004 we received  the same response from Patricia Good =
in response to an inquiry we had sent to DEA.

John N. Gohlke, Program Specialist
Medical Waste Regulatory Program
Radiological Protection and Medical Waste Section
Waste and Hazardous Material Division
Department of Environmental Quality
517-241-1320
fax: 517-373-4797

>>> "Heil, Ann" <AHeil@lacsd.org> 05/13/05 4:25 PM >>>
Attached is a letter expressing the national DEA's policy on collection of =
waste controlled substances. =20
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Ann Heil
Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County

-----Original Message-----
From: pharmwaste-admin@lists.dep.state.fl.us [mailto:pharmwaste-admin@lists=
.dep.state.fl.us]On Behalf Of Galvin, Dave
Sent: Friday, May 13, 2005 1:07 PM
To: pharmwaste@lists.dep.state.fl.us=20
Cc: Scott Cassel
Subject: RE: [Pharmwaste] take back program in Colorado -- and the DEA...



Thanks for that information, Laurie.  We have heard rumors of a national =
move in this direction by Walgreens, so any information that anyone has on =
this will be welcome.  Please share with the whole list if you know =
anything about this.

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I was amazed to see your comment at the end of your note that the DEA =
agent you spoke with says that DEA "no longer has any regulatory authority"=
 over drugs once they are dispensed!  That is certainly not what they are =
telling us out here or, from what I've heard, in other parts of the =
country!  While they are focused on controlled substances, they are =
adamant that they regulate them from cradle to destruction, regardless of =
who has them.  In theory, they even regulate them if they are inadvertently=
 flushed down the toilet;  the DEA has told some wastewater treatment =
folks that while it would be unlikely that they would ever go after them =
for having trace amounts of controlled substances in their biosolids, they =
could if they wanted to!

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We definitely should talk some more about this issue and try to get some =
better consistency of message from within DEA;  from what I can tell, =
every DEA branch office has a different spin on this subject and on what a =
local agency can or cannot do if they handle waste pharmaceuticals.  Does =
anyone on this list have a contact within DEA that could help to address =
this topic for us?

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-- Dave Galvin

   Local Hazardous Waste Management Program in King County (Seattle, WA)

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From: Tenace, Laurie [mailto:Laurie.Tenace@dep.state.fl.us]=20
Sent: Friday, May 13, 2005 12:06 PM
To: pharmwaste@lists.dep.state.fl.us=20
Cc: Scott Cassel
Subject: [Pharmwaste] take back program in Colorado

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Hi folks,

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I'm excited to tell you about a call I just had with Michael Yasenchak of =
the DEA, stationed in Tampa.

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Mike used to work for DEA in Colorado. Back in 1990, he and a nurse (Kathy =
Chaplain) started a program to help senior citizens dispose of prescription=
 drugs. They worked with local pharmacies like Walgreen and Walmart and =
had the take back events during senior events like health week. Seniors =
could take back prescription drugs to the pharmacy and would get a $5 =
coupon good for their next drug purchase at that pharmacy. The drugs were =
then taken to the local landfill for disposal - by mixing with water, =
chemicals, cement, crushing, or other methods - and then disposed in the =
landfill.

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The program eventually spread to several states - Nevada, Utah, Arizona, =
Nebraska, Kansas, Texas, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, Iowa - and =
lasted at least 10 years.

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Does anyone else on the list serve know about this program?=20

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I think this is encouraging - that a big retailer like Walgreen or Walmart =
would give a rebate (they also donated money and helped with advertising =
costs).=20

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Mike did say it took about three years to get the program rolling, so =
don't give up if you are not successful right away with your own programs!

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Mike also told me that DEA headquarters is not looking at this issue. They =
only regulate drugs from import, manufacturing, and to the pharmacy. Once =
it is dispensed, they no longer have any regulatory authority over them.

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Have a great weekend everyone!

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Laurie J. Tenace

Environmental Specialist

Florida Department of Environmental Protection

2600 Blair Stone Road, MS 4555

Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400

PH: (850) 245-8759

FAX: (850) 245-8811

Laurie.Tenace@dep.state.fl.us=20

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view our mercury web pages at:=20

http://www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/categories/mercury/default.htm=20

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