[Pharmwaste] Recycling unused prescriptions (program in Wyoming)

[Tenace, Laurie]

Sorry I don't have a URL for this article - Laurie

The Casper Star Tribune, WY 3-13-07
Recycling unused prescriptions 
By MEGAN MOORE 
Star-Tribune staff writer Tuesday, March 13, 2007

What can a person do with the bottles and bottles of expensive medications
once the sick, either by death or through cure, have no more use for them?
Try recycling them. It could save another person's life.
The City of Casper-Natrona County Health Department recently put in an
application with the Wyoming Department of Health for the Medication Donation
Program. Legislated in 2005, it involves the donation of unused prescription
medications and supplies to the various clinics in the state involved, who in
turn give them to individuals who either can't afford their medications,
don't have health insurance, or who can't afford their copay.
The program should be installed and running in Natrona County by April 16 and
will mean that Casper residents no longer have to bear the cost of shipping
for their donated medications.
"I'm really excited about the people's response to the program," said Donna
Artery, Pharmacist Consultant for the Wyoming Department of Health. "I had
someone call from Casper whose father was a cancer patient and she had tons
of his unused medication and was willing to pay the cost to ship it to us."
Artery said that while there is no money actually legislated for the cost of
mailing, there are many who are willing to pay the cost of shipping to see
that the medications get used.
"We're mainly concerned about the high cost medications going to waste. We're
very excited about Casper being involved," said Artery who is working with
the Natrona County Health Department to get the program started.
Mary Janssen, Director of the Community Nursing Division with the Natrona
County Health Department, said the program is voluntary.
"We'll be getting the information out to physicians in the community,"
Janssen said. Then doctors will be able to send patients who express a need
to the health department, where a nurse practitioner will be able to issue
the donated medications.
At first, said Janssen, "patients will be limited to whatever we have in
stock," noting later that it may take a few months to really build a
stockpile of medications.
"Our goal is to try to get it back out," she said, "otherwise it's just such
a waste."
Up to a $10 handling fee will be charged for medications dispensed at the
Natrona County Health Department.
Janssen and Artery are hopeful for the program's future, and Artery soon
hopes to see the program adopted by cities in all four corners of the state.
"Eventually we're hoping to start a statewide Web site where a doctor from
anywhere can look on the site to see where the medication is available,"
Artery said.

What can be donated
* Prescription medication in its original, unopened and sealed packaging. Or,
medication in sealed, singled-dose packaging. Patient names will be removed
to protect confidentiality.
* All medications must be donated within expiration dates.
* Over-the-counter medications will be accepted at the discretion of the
donation site, depending on available space.

What cannot be donated
* Controlled substances such as painkillers and medications with high abuse
potential
* Injectables
* Medications that require refrigeration
* Loose pills

How to dispose of medication that cannot be donated
* Keep the medication in its original container, since labels may contain
safety information and caps are typically childproof. Scratch out or cover
patient's name with permanent marker.
* Modify the contents to discourage consumption. Add a small amount of water
to pills or capsules to at least partially dissolve them; add salt, flour,
charcoal, or a nontoxic powdered spice such as turmeric or mustard to liquid
medications to discourage ingestion; and wrap blister packs containing pills
in multiple layers of duct tape.
* Seal and conceal. Tape container lids shut and place in a nontransparent
bag or container to ensure the contents cannot be seen.
* Discard the container in your garbage can. Do not place in the recycling
bin or conceal medicines in food -- they could be inadvertently consumed by
wildlife scavengers.
* Do not flush medications.

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 at dep.state.fl.us 

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