[Pharmwaste] RE: LA Times article on new DEA drug drop off back sites

Mon Sep 8 16:31:37 EDT 2014

The thing not discussed in the announcement is the related disposal  costs 
to the pharmacies/healthcare providers for the pickup and destruction  of 
these returned medications. Since it is now posted, I intend to  read the 
regulation to better understand what other impact  (besides financial) it will 
place on  pharmacies/institutions. Examples of questions that immediately 
come  to mind include:  Will the pharmacies need to identify and sort the  
hazardous drugs from non-hazardous ones?  Will the returned drugs impact  the 
provider's hazardous waste generator status?   If not  addressed in the 
regulation, further clarification and guidance will be needed  regarding these and 
other important issues for the proper disposal of waste  pharmaceuticals.

Before taking drugs to a pharmacy, I would recommend contacting the  
pharmacy/facility to determine their willingness to accept unused  prescription 
drugs for disposal.   

In a message dated 9/8/2014 3:48:39 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
jennifer.volkman at state.mn.us writes:

Well then, I will bag mine up  and bring them to my pharmacy later today! L 

From:  pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us  
[mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us] On Behalf Of Tenace,  Laurie
Sent: Monday, September 08, 2014 2:21 PM
To:  'pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us'
Subject: [Pharmwaste] LA Times  article on new DEA drug drop off back sites

_http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-dea-new-drug-takeback-sites-20140908-st
ory.html?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3
A+latimes%2Fnews%2Fnationworld%2Fnation+%28L.A.+Times+-+National+News%29_ 
(http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-dea-new-drug-takeback-sites-20140908-stor
y.html?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+la
times/news/nationworld/nation+(L.A.+Times+-+National+News))  
In an effort to  address the nation’s growing prescription drug abuse 
problem, the U.S. Drug  Enforcement Administration will now allow hospitals, 
clinics and pharmacies to  collect unused prescription drugs. 
The DEA’s new  regulation will also provide residents at long-term health 
facilities with the  option of turning in unused prescription drugs on-site. 
“We are expanding  drug take-back efforts by introducing new ways for 
people to safely dispose of  old or unused prescription drugs,” said Atty. Gen. 
Eric H. Holder Jr. in a  video message. “Through new DEA regulations, 
patients will be allowed to more  easily join the fight against prescription drug 
abuse.” 
Government  officials said the sites offer a more environmentally-friendly 
alternative to  disposing of the prescription drugs at home.  
Holder described  prescription drug abuse as an “urgent and growing  threat.
” 
According to a  survey released last week from the Substance Abuse and 
Mental Health Services  Administration, there were about 6.5 million people, 
ages 12 years or older,  taking prescription drugs for non-medical purposes in 
2013. In 2011,  prescription drugs played a role in more than half of the 
41,300 unintentional  deaths from drug overdoses. 
“These shocking  statistics illustrate that prescription drug addiction and 
abuse represent  nothing less than a public health crisis,” Holder said. “
And every day, this  crisis touches — and devastates — the lives of 
Americans from every state, in  every region and from every background.” 
In the last four  years, the DEA has hosted eight national take-back 
events, in which Americans  can drop off unwanted or expired prescription drugs at 
designated sites. More  than 4.1 million pounds of prescription pills have 
been collected and disposed  of. The next take-back event will be on Sept. 
27. 
The take-back  events are part of the Obama administration’s broader 
efforts to prevent drug  abuse and trafficking. In October 2010, President Obama 
signed into law the  Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act, amending the 
Controlled Substances  Act by giving the attorney general the ability to 
promote regulations that  allow for patients to drop off unused prescription 
drugs to “appropriate  entities for disposal.” 
Laurie Tenace 
Environmental Specialist 
Waste Reduction Section 
Florida Department of Environmental  Protection 
2600 Blair Stone Road, MS 4555 
Tallahassee, FL 32399-2400 
850.245.8759 
_Laurie.Tenace at dep.state.fl.us_ (mailto:Laurie.Tenace at dep.state.fl.us)  

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