[Pharmwaste] More Envelopes for Unused Meds (Maine)

DeBiasi,Deborah Deborah.DeBiasi at deq.virginia.gov
Tue Aug 18 13:07:35 EDT 2009


http://www.governing.com/column/more-envelopes-unused-meds

More Envelopes for Unused Meds 

By Tina Trenkner | August 17, 2009

GOVERNING recognized Maine's Safe Medicine Disposal for ME Program as a way for the state to prevent unused medications from entering the water supply or being available for overmedication or abuse. The program separated itself from other drug-disposal programs in that residents could send their unused meds in a pre-paid mailer to the state Drug Enforcement Agency to track what medicines are piling up in medicine cabinets and dispose of them. Originally created by the state legislature and funded by a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the program started  in just four counties and has since expanded statewide. Over 2,000 people have mailed in 1,000 pounds of unused medications (with 25 percent of those mailed in being antidepressants and antipsychotic medications). The list of sites offering envelopes is updated to reflect which places are out of stock. And last month, the program announced that it will continue in expanded form for another two years, thanks to commitments from the Maine Department of Public Safety, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Fund for a Healthy Maine. The new commitments will allow the program to distribute 20,000 mailers and expand the number of designated sites offering the envelopes to over 100.


Deborah L. DeBiasi 
Email:   Deborah.DeBiasi at deq.virginia.gov (NEW!)
WEB site address:  www.deq.virginia.gov 
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality 
Office of Water Permit Programs 
Industrial Pretreatment/Toxics Management Program 
PPCPs, EDCs, and Microconstituents 
Mail:          P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, VA  23218 (NEW!) 
Location:  629 E. Main Street, Richmond, VA  23219 
PH:         804-698-4028 
FAX:      804-698-4032 




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