[Pharmwaste] Federal Government issues drug disposal guidance -if not that, then what?

[Volkman, Jennifer]

A relatively simple immediately needed fix would be to eliminate the
sentence "Flush prescription drugs down the toilet only if..." 
 
Then we need to be involved in the 2 year process to help set up better
options as Gressitt noted in his message.
 
JV

	-----Original Message-----
	From: pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us
[mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us] On Behalf Of Price,
John L.
	Sent: Friday, February 23, 2007 1:19 PM
	To: rachel golden
	Cc: pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
	Subject: RE: [Pharmwaste] Federal Government issues drug
disposal guidance -if not that, then what?
	
	

	Rachel: I appreciate your critique and thoughts about this.  Not
sure I'm with you on the "First of all" but I would concur with you on
the "Second."  And I agree that this guidance does not completely
acknowledge or address this "enormous issue." I do find it to be a step
in the right direction, though.

	 

	May I ask, however, what DO you recommend as practical guidance
to the general public's inquiries if not this?  From where I sit, we
cannot answer inquiries about "What should I do with my unwanted
pharmaceuticals" with "Well, we aren't sure what you should do, but
don't do this."  That's an incomplete answer. People who want to do the
right thing, and ask us what that is, need to be given our best guidance
based on what we know that, while not perfect, easy, etc., allows them
to do SOMETHING positive or at least SOMETHING less negative.  In my
opinion, that's what fostering public buy-in to environmental protection
is all about - empowering people to help in some small or big way.

	 

	I have attached our agency's answer to inquiries about "What
should I do with my unwanted pharmaceuticals?"  Also, find at
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/quick_topics/publications/shw/meds/DEPM
edicationDisposalFlyer111706Final.pdf. 

	 

	Thanks for the post and for any feedback to mine.

	 

	Jack.

	 

	John L. (Jack) Price

	Environmental Manager

	Hazardous Waste Management MS 4555

	Florida Department of Environmental Protection

	2600 Blair Stone Road

	Tallahassee, FL  32399-2400

	Phone:850.245.8751

	Fax: 850.245.8811

	john.l.price at dep.state.fl.us

	www.dep.state.fl.us/waste

	Please Note:  Florida has a very broad public records law.  Most
written communications to or from state officials regarding state
business are public records available to the public and media upon
request.  Your e-mail is communications and may therefore be subject to
public disclosure.

	
________________________________


	From: pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us
[mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us] On Behalf Of rachel
golden
	Sent: Friday, February 23, 2007 12:06 PM
	To: pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
	Subject: Re: [Pharmwaste] Federal Government issues drug
disposal guidance

	 

	Concerning the Federal Government Drug Disposal Guidance...
	
	I'm not quite sure where to begin...
	
	First of all, the fact of the matter is that people just won't
do this.  The folks who are calling our organizations and asking about
how they can safely dispose of their drugs are not representative of the
overall population, and I don't even think all of them would go through
the trouble of mixing their drugs in coffee grounds or cat litter.  This
is not a realistic solution, or even a realistic temporary solution.  It
might be a way to remove any responsibility from themselves, but it in
no way gets us closer to a solution.
	
	Second, is this the actual guidance document that the public is
supposed to get their information from?  Please tell me it's not, and
that the writers of this guidance document are currently working with
educators to craft the actual public document.  The reading level is not
appropriate for the general public.  Most material for the public is
written at a 6th to 8th grade reading level.  The bulleted points in the
drug disposal guidance document are at a 12th grade reading level.  I
also would not recommend one of the bullet points reading, "Flush
prescription drugs down the toilet only if..."  This guidance document
is needed specifically to let people know NOT to flush their drugs, an
action that was once recommended, so giving guidance that phrases
flushing in positive terminology will only confuse people.
	
	This is an enormous issue that I think will require law changes
as well as the public being educated to think about waste and disposal
in an entirely new framework.  I don't think the guidance document even
begins to acknowledge this.
	
	Sincerely,
	Rachel Golden

	-- 
	Rachel Golden
	Adult Environmental Education Program Manager
	Office of Environmental Education
	NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources
	1609 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1609
	919-733-0711 (phone) 919-733-1616 (fax)
	rachel.golden at ncmail.net
	www.eenorthcarolina.org
	
	Check out the EcoSmart Consumer MySpace page
<http://www.myspace.com/ecosmartconsumer>  and blog
<http://ecosmartconsumer.blogspot.com/> !

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