[Pharmwaste] FW: pharmaceuticals safety conference

[Stevan Gressitt]

News release - Oct. 28, 2008
Contacts: Len Kaye or Jason Charland, 262-7928; George Manlove, 581-3756

Pharmaceuticals Use, Abuse and Drug Return Program Are Symposium Focus Nov.
10-11

PORTLAND - Prescription drug use, abuse, return and disposal are the focus
of the multifaceted "2008 International Symposium on Pharmaceuticals in the
Home and Environment: Catalyst for Change" conference, scheduled Nov. 10-11
by the University of
Maine Center on Aging and the Maine Benzodiazepine Study Group (MBSG).

Dozens of leading authorities from state and federal governments, the
prescription drug industry and community healthcare from throughout the
country have been invited to present and discuss the latest information on
drug use, abuse and safe
disposal methods. 

Being held at the Wyndham Hotel Portland Airport, 363 Maine Mall Road in
South Portland, the conference is designed for health care professionals,
policymakers, law enforcement personnel, environmentalists, substance abuse
professionals, and others
concerned with the human and environmental impact of prescription drugs on
individuals, families, communities and the environment. It is open to the
public. Program details are available on the MBSG Web site
(http://www.mainebenzo.org/documents/AdvanceProgram10.6_000.pdf).

"We're expecting close to 200 professionals from around the country," says
Jason Charland of the Center on Aging and conference coordinator. "The
unique thing about this conference is that it draws together a wide range of
professionals who might
not normally be at the same meetings or conferences together, and allows for
information sharing and networking across disciplines.

The annual conference has proven to be a gathering place for disseminating
the latest trend data available on prescription drug use and abuse. It also
will showcase the rapidly expanding number of innovative demonstrations
throughout the United
States and beyond that promote responsible, effective and safe prescribing,
usage, return and disposal practices.

The conference is "nationally recognized as a significant public health
meeting to attend," Charland says.

Leading authorities from federal and state government, industry, and
community health care across the United States and beyond will present the
latest information on cutting edge research, policy and programming
addressing such issues as: drug
diversion, fraud, prevention, and abuse; new drug-related developments at
the federal and state level; innovative national and international
prescription drug return and disposal programs; the environmental and health
impacts of drug waste; and
medication management and prescribing practices.

The MBSG was created to assess problems resulting from the home storage and
improper disposal of benzodiazepine and other prescription drugs, which were
and still are routinely flushed down toilets, and eventually into the
environment. 

Benzodiazepines, a class of medications used to treat anxiety, stress and
insomnia, are like many drugs that pass through the human body and through
municipal wastewater treatment plants and into rivers and streams. The MBSG,
which is administered
by the UMaine Center on Aging, has attracted interest and cooperation from
many disparate entities interested keeping expired or unused drugs out of
the environment and out of the hands of people for whom the drugs were not
intended, including
thieves or children. 

"The real significance is that Maine is at the forefront of drug disposal
innovations with its EPA-funded drug mail-back program," Charland says.
"We're forging collaborations with stakeholders from around the U.S. who
attend this conference and
work together to address timely issues pertaining to prescription drugs."
 
The program is being piloted in Maine, with other states observing its
success, according to Len Kaye, director of the Center on Aging and Dr.
Stevan Gressitt, medical director of the Office of Adult Mental Health
Services, Maine Department of
Health and Human Services.

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George W. Manlove
News Writer
Dept. of University Relations
University of Maine
5761 Keyo Building
Orono, ME 04469-5761
(207) 581-3756