Fwd: [Pharmwaste] Prescription Drug Takeback Programs & Substance Abuse Policy

Fri Mar 2 20:05:01 EST 2012

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Stevan Gressitt <gressitt at gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Mar 2, 2012 at 8:04 PM
Subject: Re: [Pharmwaste] Prescription Drug Takeback Programs & Substance
Abuse Policy
To: "Tenace, Laurie" <Laurie.Tenace at dep.state.fl.us>

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/opinion/prescription-drug-addiction-is-becoming-a-big-problem-in-australia/story-fn56b2fi-1226055931316

not definitive, but...also does not address rate of increase and RUM was
not initially advertised as a drug abuse prevention program. Drug disposal
can , I believe< impact drug abuse, only when the availability and
user-friendliness of drug disposal can be reviewed epidemiologically,
Untill then any criticism that it doesn't have an impact might be responded
to with, well how about offer us the funds to provide just the study you
wish to see.

On Fri, Mar 2, 2012 at 2:26 PM, Tenace, Laurie <
Laurie.Tenace at dep.state.fl.us> wrote:

> ****
>
> It would be interesting to see what drug abuse research has shown in
> Australia where a national take back program has been in effect for several
> years. ****
>
> http://www.returnmed.com.au/****
>
> Laurie****
>
> ** **
>
> Laurie Tenace****
>
> Environmental Specialist III****
>
> Waste Reduction Section****
>
> Florida Department of Environmental Protection****
>
> 2600 Blair Stone Rd., MS 4555****
>
> Tallahassee FL 32399-2400****
>
> P: 850.245.8759****
>
> F: 850.245.8811****
>
> Laurie.Tenace at dep.state.fl.us  ****
>
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> **
>
> Batteries:
> http://www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/categories/batteries/default.htm****
>
> Pharmaceuticals:  http://www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/pharm/****
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
>
> *Please take a few minutes to share your comments on the service you
> received from the department by clicking on this link DEP Customer Survey<http://survey.dep.state.fl.us/?refemail=Laurie.Tenace@dep.state.fl.us>
> .*
> **
>
> *From:* pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us [mailto:
> pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us] *On Behalf Of *Ed Gottlieb
> *Sent:* Friday, March 02, 2012 12:48 PM
> *To:* Zachary Laris
> *Cc:* Daniel Ramer; pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
> *Subject:* [Pharmwaste] Prescription Drug Takeback Programs & Substance
> Abuse Policy****
>
> ** **
>
> Dear Mr. Laris,****
>
>  ****
>
> I'm sure you recall that I provided you with information about the costs
> and results of the drug takeback program run by the CSMD in Tompkins
> County, NY. ****
>
>  ****
>
> I read the Policy Brief for your examination of prescription drug takeback
> programs at http://carnevaleassociates.com/takebacks.  ****
>
>  ****
>
> In the opening summary paragraph, Carnevale says, "In addition, we found
> no evidence that takeback programs affect prescription drug abuse."  I'm
> quite shocked to read this very misleading statement!  It creates the
> strong impression that you looked at evidence and concluded that takeback
> programs do not affect prescription drug abuse.  This is not the case.  **
> **
>
>  ****
>
> In this same Policy Brief, in the paragraph titled, "Assessing Takebacks:
> Little is Known" you state, "In fact, no research has been conducted to
> investigate takebacks’ effect on prescription drug abuse."  If no research
> has been done on the question, a neutral conclusion would be appropriate.
> Wouldn't a more accurate summation be, "Data doesn't exist to determine if
> takeback programs affect prescription drug abuse."? ****
>
>  ****
>
> I hope you be able to address this issue in a meaningful way.****
>
>  ****
>
> Thanks for your consideration.****
>
>  ****
>
> Sincerely,****
>
>  ****
>
> Ed Gottlieb****
>
> Chair, Coalition for Safe Medication Disposal
> Industrial Pretreatment Coordinator
> Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Facility
> 525 3rd Street
> Ithaca, NY  14850
> (607) 273-8381
> fax: (607) 273-8433
>
> >>> "Zachary Laris" <zachary at carnevaleassociates.com> 5/5/2011 1:34 PM >>>
> Thank you Mr. Gottlieb, this is most helpful.
>
> Best,
> Zach
>
> Zachary Laris
> Junior Policy Analyst
> Carnevale Associates, LLC
> Mobile: (202) 230-7664
> Zachary at carnevaleassociates.com
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ed Gottlieb [mailto:egottlieb at cityofithaca.org<egottlieb at cityofithaca.org>]
>
> Sent: Thursday, May 05, 2011 10:25 AM
> To: Zachary Laris
> Subject: Budget reports.
>
> Mr. Laris,
>
> I am attaching budget reports for all three collections.
> Additional materials were donated by various agencies involved:  small
> plastic bags (a no longer used type), flier printing (about 200 color
> pages), poster printing (9, 2x3'), disposable rubber gloves, tape, etc.
>
> I still hope to get you a total hours worked & paid hours (including at
> least some with $/hr) report for the April 9th collection.
>
> Best,
>
> Ed
>
> >>> "Zachary Laris" <zachary at carnevaleassociates.com> 5/4/2011 10:32 AM
> >>> >>>
> Mr. Gottlieb,
>
> I am most appreciative of your time and assistance in sending along the
> information on your take back events.  This provides great insight into the
> workings of your program.  Unfortunately, an honorarium is not something my
> firm can provide.  If you are interested in providing further information
> to
> assist in take back cost effectiveness research we would be greatly
> appreciative.  However, we fully understand that your time is valuable and
> that may not be possible.  Either way, thank you again for your help.
>
> Best Regards,
> Zach
>
> Zachary Laris
> Junior Policy Analyst
> Carnevale Associates, LLC
> Mobile: (202) 230-7664
> Zachary at carnevaleassociates.com
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ed Gottlieb [mailto:egottlieb at cityofithaca.org<egottlieb at cityofithaca.org>
> ]
> Sent: Wednesday, May 04, 2011 9:08 AM
> To: Zachary Laris
> Subject: Re: Take Back Follow Up
>
> Dear Mr. Laris,
>
> I am sending you data on individual contribution weights (with packaging),
> survey results, and final reports for our three events.  I am also sending
> the hours worked data that I have (haven't collected this information for
> our third event, though I could), some expense reports, some photos, and
> other information.  All will be attached in multiple emails to assure they
> are not over any delivery limit.
>
> As far as I have been able to determine, our first event collected more
> weight of medications than any other one day, one location collection in
> the
> nation.
>
> To see the seven part "how-to organize a pharm waste collection video" we
> had made go to:
> http://www.takebacknetwork.com/about.html
> This URL also has a link to the inventory data base spreadsheet we
> developed.  This contains the detailed inventory data from our second and
> third events (sort by date.)
>
> I would be happy to respond more fully to your request.  For example, I
> know
> you want to know the hours worked for the third event and how many of the
> reported hours worked were paid and at what rate.  I could also answer
> further questions by phone or email, provide more event photos (at higher
> resolution), etc.  I am wondering if a small honorarium might be available
> to justify the additional time commitment?
>
> Regards,
>
>
> Ed Gottlieb
> Industrial Pretreatment Coordinator
> Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Facility
> 525 3rd Street
> Ithaca, NY  14850
> (607) 273-8381
> fax: (607) 273-8433
>
>
> >>> "Zachary Laris" <zachary at carnevaleassociates.com> 4/27/2011 12:22 PM
> >>> >>>
> Mr. Gottlieb,
>
>
>
> Thank you for discussing Ithaca's take back program with me this morning.
> Carnevale Associates specializes in substance abuse policy, and we are
> gathering information on take back programs nationwide as part of an
> inventory and assessment of current programs.  Specifically, we are
> interested in understanding program costs, and linking those costs to
> outcome measures wherever possible.  Our ultimate goal is to gain an
> understanding of the most cost-effective take back program components.
>
>
>
> I would love the opportunity to take a look at any and all survey
> information your program has gathered, as well as data on what particularly
> your program has collected at the events.  If it would be possible for you
> to provide more detailed cost information regarding each individual event
> (staff time and cost breakdowns for each event, ad costs, materials,
> destruction, etc.) that would be most helpful.  Also if you have any
> thoughts you'd like to share generally about programmatic changes you've
> implemented as you've held programs and learned ways to improve them.
>
>
>
> Because we're performing this work under contract, the reports generated
> remain the property of our client.  As a result, we are not permitted to
> share them.  However, I'm happy to report your interest and pass along your
> contact information.  As a matter of policy, we do not disclose our client
> information for specific projects.  We work for a variety of organizations
> including the federal government, state and local governments, academic and
> other non-profit institutions, and private industry.  If you're interested
> in taking a look at a (non-exhaustive) list of our clients and the type of
> work we have done in the past, you can take a look at our website
> <http://www.carnevaleassociates.com/> .  Carnevale Associates also plans
> to
> stay involved with take back issues after this project ends, and I'd be
> more
> than happy to send you any subsequent in-house materials that we produce in
> this area.  Thank you again for your time and assistance.
>
>
>
> Best Regards,
>
> Zach Laris
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Zachary Laris
>
> Junior Policy Analyst
>
> Carnevale Associates, LLC
>
> Mobile: (202) 230-7664
>
> Zachary at carnevaleassociates.com
>
>
>
>
> ****
>
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-- 
Stevan Gressitt, M.D.
Faculty Associate, University of Maine Center on Aging
Academic Member, Athens Institute for Education and Research
Athens, Greece
Founding Director, International Institute for Pharmaceutical Safety
University of New England, College of Pharmacy
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry
University of New England, College of Osteopathic Medicine
314 Clark Road
Unity, Maine, 04988
gressitt at gmail.com
Cell: 207-441-0291
www.benzos.une.edu
www.safemeddisposal.com

-- 
Stevan Gressitt, M.D.
Faculty Associate, University of Maine Center on Aging
Academic Member, Athens Institute for Education and Research
Athens, Greece
Founding Director, International Institute for Pharmaceutical Safety
University of New England, College of Pharmacy
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry
University of New England, College of Osteopathic Medicine
314 Clark Road
Unity, Maine, 04988
gressitt at gmail.com
Cell: 207-441-0291
www.benzos.une.edu
www.safemeddisposal.com
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