[Pharmwaste] Unwanted Medicine - Police Station Drop Boxes - RESULTS

Mon May 17 17:01:23 EDT 2010

Don't forget Florida, for some  reason this may not have reached you so I 
am resending. thanks.
Veora Little, CRNA, Naples, Florida, veoralittle at aol.com

1)
What state do you work in or  represent? 
Collier County, Florida  (DrugFreeCollier, a substance abuse coalition.) 
2)        Are police station drop boxes  allowed or prohibited in your 
state? 
Yes they are allowed, we have them  at 2 police and sheriff's office(total 
3)  Our medical examiner also will  collect all drugs including controlled 
substances at her  office. 
3)        Is there specific guidance or  legal requirements associated with 
the drop boxes beyond obtaining DEA waivers  and complying with haz waste 
rules/exemptions? 
Law Enforcement presence at all times is a requirement.  We  have a letter 
from DEA stating we run program within their guidelines.   No waiver 
necessary.  All medications are collected as abandoned property  and incinerated as 
evidence. Medical Examiner has statutes that allow them to  house these 
substances, they incinerate as  well.. 

4)       Have there  been any problems with police station drop boxes in 
your  state? 
No, just lots of very happy citizens sharing they want a  place to bring 
their old medications.  We also do a collection event,  "OPERATION MEDICINE 
CABINET" two times a year at 10 locations throughout  the county to collect in 
convenient locations, Law Enforcement is present at  these events. Next 
event November 13, 2010, join us.  Happy to share  any information.  
_veoralittle at aol.com_ (mailto:veoralittle at aol.com)   Thanks.

In a message dated 5/17/2010 4:57:22 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
Brandon.Kernen at des.nh.gov writes:

Respondents explained that eight  states (CA, FL, ID, MN, ND, NM, UT, WI) 
have one or more police station drop  boxes.  Additionally, I am aware of 
five other states (AR, MA, ME, NH and  TN) where drop boxes are present. Two 
states described some issues associated  with small businesses disposing their 
unwanted pharmaceuticals in the drop  boxes as well as other materials such 
as sharps.  These problems were  addressed through education and/or placing 
the drop boxes in an area that  could be scrutinized more closely. 
Two replies to my inquiry  indicated that police station drop boxes are not 
present in IN or VA.   
While some states have general  requirements/guidelines associated with the 
collection of controlled  substances, I did not receive any responses that 
indicate states have  developed detailed guidance for constructing and 
operating a police station  drop box. Instead, local police stations are 
sometimes developing and  implementing their own procedures. 
No attempt was made  to determine the status of police drop boxes in states 
that no one responded  about. 
This information  people provided was very helpful in broadly addressing 
some questions and  concern from policymakers in NH.  Thank you! 
I did get a lot of  detail from some respondents and can forward the 
package of responses I  received if anyone wants them. 
Regards 

Brandon Kernen, PG -  Supervisor, Hydrology and Conservation Program
Drinking  Water and Groundwater Bureau  Phone: 603 271 0660/Fax:  603 271 
0656
_http://des.nh.gov/organization/divisions/water/dwgb/dwspp/index.htm_ 
(http://des.nh.gov/organization/divisions/water/dwgb/dwspp/index.htm) 
-----Original  Message-----
From: Gressitt,  Stevan [mailto:Stevan.Gressitt at maine.gov] 
Sent: Monday, May 10,  2010 10:24  AM
To: Kernen,  Brandon; pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
Subject: RE: [Pharmwaste] Unwanted  Medicine - Police Station Drop Boxes 
I’d  be very interested in seeing the result of this  survey.Please? 

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_ (mailto:stevan.gressitt at maine.gov)  
_http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mh/_ (http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mh/)  
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____________________________________

From:  pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us  
[mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us] On Behalf Of Kernen, Brandon
Sent: Monday, May 10,  2010 8:59  AM
To:  pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
Subject: [Pharmwaste] Unwanted Medicine -  Police Station Drop Boxes
NH is considering clarifying state  law to allow for police stations to 
have drop boxes for unwanted/expired  medicine.  Although some of these exist 
in NH already, NH state law  inadvertently does not permit these at this 
time. 
I would appreciate if you could  answer the following questions: 
1)        What state do you work in or  represent? 
2)        Are police station drop boxes  allowed or prohibited in your 
state? 
3)        Is there specific guidance or  legal requirements associated with 
the drop boxes beyond obtaining DEA waivers  and complying with haz waste 
rules/exemptions? 
4)        Have there been any problems with  police station drop boxes in 
your state? 
Thank you 
Brandon  Kernen, PG - Supervisor, Hydrology and Conservation  Program
Drinking Water and Groundwater  Bureau  Phone: 603 271 0660/Fax: 603 271  
0656
_http://des.nh.gov/organization/divisions/water/dwgb/dwspp/index.htm_ 
(http://des.nh.gov/organization/divisions/water/dwgb/dwspp/index.htm)  

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