*****SPAM***** RE: [Pharmwaste] Northfield owner arrested

[Catherine Zimmer]

I know of a pharmacy that is taking drugs back, putting them in plastic 
bags and sending them to the landfill--using the guidance from the FWS 
website.  At least they're leach-proof right? 

Catherine Zimmer
Health Care Specialist

Minnesota Technical Assistance Program
University of Minnesota
612.624.4635, 800.247.0015
http://www.mntap.umn.edu

Helping Minnesota businesses maximize resource efficiency, increase energy efficiency, reduce costs, and prevent pollution



Gressitt, Stevan wrote:
> I just had another conversation yesterday with a pharmacist who who
> blithely told me he knew what he was doing with his take back was
> probably against the law but "so what I'm doing the right thing." 
>
> It was so "in my ear" that I just decided not to even comment.
>
> There is a very very very long way to go yet.
>
>
>
> Stevan Gressitt, M.D., Medical Director
> Office of Adult Mental Health Services
> Department of Health and Human Services
> Marquardt Building, 2nd Floor
> 11 State House Station
> 32 Blossom Lane
> Augusta, ME  04333-0011
> Ph: (207)287-4273
> Fax: (207)287-1022
> Cell Phone: (207) 441-0291
> E-Mail : stevan.gressitt at maine.gov
> http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mh/
>  
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> -----Original Message-----
> From: Volkman, Jennifer [mailto:Jennifer.Volkman at state.mn.us] 
> Sent: Friday, June 19, 2009 12:04 PM
> To: Gilliam, Allen; pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
> Cc: Alvin Simmons; Gressitt, Stevan; mirelesmc at earthlink.net
> Subject: RE: [Pharmwaste] Northfield owner arrested
>
> We had a "reputable" reverse distributor here in MN that told a pharmacy
> they'd take everything from their household pharm collection and manage
> it for free as a value added service.  Well, we know none of those
> pharms can be redistributed and a portion of them will be hazardous and
> a portion will be controlled substances.  I was disappointed at their
> lack of knowledge of the HW and DEA regulations.  The pharmacist is one
> I've worked with over the past few years and knew the regulatory issues
> and that the deal sounded too good to be true. She called and we
> clarified that the reverse distributor could not do that, but other
> pharmacists that are pretty comfortable with their RDs might not see a
> red flag here.  I think there is plenty of work that needs to be done to
> ensure that RDs understand the regulatory issues so they don't end up
> getting fined for acting as unpermitted RCRA transporters or facilities.
> It is definitely something to go over with those who are doing HH pharm
> collection in your states, we don't want this issue to cut us off at the
> knees as Allen notes.  
>  
> Another RD we looked at was doing the same basic thing--taking all,
> sorting and sewering what couldn't be legitimately redistributed.  They
> are doing a much better job now with some technical assistance.  I'm not
> sure how these entities are licensed, maybe through the state pharmacy
> board?  I'm going to check on that to see if we can get them some
> guidance because as far as I know we're 0 for 3 with these operations in
> MN.
>
> ________________________________
>
> From: pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us on behalf of Gilliam,
> Allen
> Sent: Fri 6/19/2009 7:08 AM
> To: pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
> Cc: Alvin Simmons; Gressitt, Stevan; mirelesmc at earthlink.net
> Subject: RE: [Pharmwaste] Northfield owner arrested
>
>
>
> I've heard this is not uncommon even at some of the pharmacies who are
> participating in a customer "take-back" program.  Many more stories like
> this come out, the DEA's gonna put a tight plug on the legit programs, I
> fear.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us
> [mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us] On Behalf Of Jennifer
> Crittenden
> Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2009 11:57 AM
> To: pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
> Subject: [Pharmwaste] Northfield owner arrested
>
>
> Owner of Northfield drug disposal service now facing charges
>
> Link:
> http://www.startribune.com/local/south/45486592.html?elr=KArksi8cyaiUgOa
> hccyiUiacyKUnciatkEP7DhUs
>
> The owner of a Northfield company that collects outdated, recalled or
> excess pharmaceuticals has been indicted in federal court for allegedly
> diverting prescription drugs for sale on the street.
>
> Mark Andrew Goetz, 40, of Prior Lake, was charged Tuesday with illegally
> distributing Xanax and OxyContin this year. The transactions, both
> during sting operations, involved more than 1,600 tablets, the
> indictment alleges.
>
> Goetz owns Pharmaceutical Returns, a reverse distributor of controlled
> substances that is authorized by the federal Drug Enforcement
> Administration (DEA) to collect the drugs and return them to the
> companies for credit or destroy them at approved incinerators.
>
> According to the indictment:
>
> In January, members of the Metro Gang Strike Task Force learned that
> Goetz was redirecting controlled substances to his drug customers just
> before or shortly after scheduled destructions. Officers set up a sting
> on Jan. 10 at Goetz's home involving 99 tablets of Xanax, an
> anti-anxiety drug. A second "controlled purchase" of 1,274 tablets of
> OxyContin, a painkiller, and 245 tablets of Xanax was conducted by the
> DEA and the task force on May 6 in a south Minneapolis apartment parking
> lot.
>
> Goetz was stopped as he was leaving the parking lot; officers seized a
> small amount of a controlled substance and a laptop computer.
>
>
>
> Jennifer Crittenden, M.S.W.
> Research Associate
> UMaine Center on Aging
> 327 Camden Hall
> 25 Texas Ave.
> Bangor, Maine 04401-4324
> Telephone: 207-262-7923
> Fax: 207-262-7921
> E-mail:Jennifer.Crittenden at umit.maine.edu
>
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