[Pharmwaste] Teleosis Institute Releases Green Pharmacy Toolkit

[Evin Guy]

http://www.prlog.org/10170753-teleosis-institute-releases-green-pharmacy
-toolkit.html
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

 

TELEOSIS INSTITUTE RELEASES "GREEN PHARMACY TOOLKIT"

Substantial Reduction in Pharmaceutical Pollution Possible

 

Berkeley, CA - January 22, 2008.  After safely collecting and disposing
over 5,000 pounds of consumer pharmaceutical waste, the Teleosis
Institute is pleased to release the Green Pharmacy Toolkit: A Guide to
Creating an Environmentally Safe Medicine Disposal Program. The toolkit
offers a step-by-step guide for any pharmacy, medical or dental clinic
to implement a medicine take-back program, while effectively promoting
environmental health and pharmaceutical safety.

 

A significant number of medicines from households go unused or expire,
and there are few convenient and safe methods for disposing of them in
the U.S.  Unused medicines stored in the home or improperly disposed of
often result in accidental poisonings, drug diversion or abuse, and
environmental contamination. Medicines that are flushed down the drain
are not removed by the wastewater treatment plants. Over 80% of
waterways tested in the U.S. show traces of common medications and have
the potential to impact aquatic organisms.  The Green Pharmacy Program
offers communities a safe and secure method for collecting and properly
disposing of unwanted medicines.

 

According to Peter Koshland, Pharmacy Director at Elephant Pharmacy, "We
are simply providing our customers a service in response to the
increasing awareness of the environmental impacts of improperly disposed
medications. The Green Pharmacy Program shows our patients that we put
our environmental beliefs into action."

 

The Green Pharmacy Toolkit is the first of its kind to offer
instructions for developing, operating, and maintaining a permanent
pharmaceutical take-back program.  The toolkit includes extensive staff
training and outreach materials as well as posters, brochures and access
to the most up-to-date information on the ongoing research efforts of
the Teleosis Institute's Green Pharmacy Program.  Sponsors of the Green
Pharmacy Program include: Abbott Fund, Integrated Waste Control,
Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy, Elephant Pharm, Kaiser Permanente, and
BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.

 

"Teleosis gave Pharmaca the opportunity to put our environmental
philosophy into practice.  This partnership gave us the tools to educate
customers about the responsible medication disposal.  By expanding the
program, Teleosis can help communities improve the health of our water
resources dramatically" says Alexis Speros, communication Manager at
Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy.  In November of 2008, Pharmaca announced
a commitment to operate pharmaceutical take-backs in all of their 22
locations in the Western U.S. 

 

Currently the Green Pharmacy Program is expanding from 15 pilot
take-back sites <http://www.teleosis.org/gpp-locations.php>
[www.teleosis.org/gpp-locations.php] (at San Francisco Bay Area
pharmacies, doctor and dental offices, veterinarian hospitals, health
care facilities) to a national program that will enlist hundreds of
locations throughout the United States.  Staff at take-back sites screen
for controlled substances, which are turned away because of current DEA
restrictions.  Medications collected at take-back sites are incinerated,
currently the most environmentally safe method of destruction.

 

"I'm pleased to be able to expand our reach with the Green Pharmacy
Toolkit" says Dr. Joel Kreisberg, executive director of the Teleosis
Institute.  "I believe this will have a significant impact on reducing
pharmaceutical pollution while promoting health and safety for people
and the environment."  The Green Pharmacy Toolkit uses a product
stewardship approach to "green" the pharmaceutical life-cycle and calls
on all stakeholders to get involved.  The toolkit can be purchased
online at www.greenpharmacyprogram.com
<http://www.greenpharmacyprogram.com/> .  

 

About The Teleosis Institute:
The Teleosis Institute is an educational non-profit organization devoted
to reducing the environmental impact of health care.  The Institute
promotes sustainable medical practices and works in partnership with the
health care community to build a movement for positive social and
environmental change.  Our programs and educational materials include:
The Green Health Care Program, The Green Pharmacy Program, and
Leadership Training in Green Health Care. www.teleosis.org
<http://www.teleosis.org/>  

 

Contact:


Evin Guy

Teleosis Institute 

1521B Fifth Street 

Berkeley, CA 94710

510.558.7285 x104

evin at teleosis.org

 

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Helping Communities Safely Dispose of Unwanted Medicine
<http://www.teleosis.org/gpp-program.php> 

 
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