[Pharmwaste] Senators encourage reinstatement of DEA Take-Back Events

Mon Jun 1 15:19:09 EDT 2015

CVS is involved at two levels.  They have a grant program to provide a number of drop boxes to law enforcement.
They are the only large retail pharmacy chain that has publicly announced their intention to have their pharmacies become take back locations.  It is my understanding that CVS is proceeding carefully, so that they can have a consistent program at all their locations.  They are the leading edge of what we can hope will be a huge wave of participation.  When that wave will hit and when it will crest is anyone's guess.

I understand Deb's concern that pushing to restore an interim measure feels less productive than pushing for a long term solution.  I have twice contacted the corporate headquarters of all the pharmacies in my county and have offered a free drop box if they would commit to using it as soon as NYS law allows it.  Since there is not much else I can do to push for a long term solution, I am all for reviving a proven, short-term, fix.

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
________________________________
From: pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us [pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us] on behalf of Volkman, Jennifer (MPCA) [jennifer.volkman at state.mn.us]
Sent: Monday, June 01, 2015 3:00 PM
To: pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
Subject: RE: [Pharmwaste] Senators encourage reinstatement of DEA Take-Back Events

Glad you live a clean life and don’t know where your Sheriff’s office is!

I looked up CVS’s program online. They’ll give law enforcement a bin with their logo all over it if they’ll collect and manage the drugs. Removes one barrier, I guess. I don’t know if they are actually doing any collecting themselves. I haven’t heard of any chains jumping in, but we’re stalled out here in MN.

I agree that DEA backed out too soon. Another four events/two years would be nice. The events appeared to be a fairly efficient use of federal dollars to raise awareness and reduce the availability of controlled substances.

From: pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us [mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us] On Behalf Of Hauser, Deborah
Sent: Monday, June 01, 2015 1:47 PM
To: pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
Subject: RE: [Pharmwaste] Senators encourage reinstatement of DEA Take-Back Events

I guess I’m a little disappointed that nobody is even discussing the possibility of retail pharmacies collecting.  I had heard rumors about CVS planning to start providing permanent collection boxes in their pharmacies.  Has anyone else heard anything?  Because it sure is a lot more convenient for the average resident to drop off old pharms at the corner drug store than to find the local law enforcement drop box.  I don’t even know where my local sheriff’s office is located!

Deb

[New Image]

Deborah Hauser
Environmental Specialist
Division of Materials and Waste Management
614.728.5353
Please note that my name has changed (previously Hoffman).  Please update your address book.

From: pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us<mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us> [mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us] On Behalf Of DeBiasi, Deborah (DEQ)
Sent: Monday, June 01, 2015 2:37 PM
To: Ed Gottlieb; pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us<mailto:pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us>
Subject: RE: [Pharmwaste] Senators encourage reinstatement of DEA Take-Back Events

            The nine DEA National Take-Back Initiatives were a bargain because of a lot of volunteer time donations from Law Enforcement, the National Guard, Public Utility staff, Environmental groups and DEA, and because DEA picked up the tab for the destruction.  The logistical challenges were significant, as transporters gathered up collected drugs from consolidation points at law enforcement locations across the state and trucked them to the incinerators.

            Virginia is looking at continuing the two Drug Take-Back events on set Saturdays, maybe in April and September since the DEA events got folks in the habit of expecting them.  We haven’t seen much interest for housing collection boxes or supporting the mail-back programs for a variety of reasons.  Even with Covanta Incinerators offering us free destruction of the collected drugs, costs are estimated at $50,000-60,000 per event and that still includes a lot of donated time.  Funding must be present or we can’t do it.

            If Congress mandates that DEA resume sponsorship for the effort, they need to provide the funding and resources for them to do it.  The Virginia DEA staff were great to work with, and they did an amazing job of orchestrating the Take-Back events often with little advance notice of the event dates, but it also tied up their agents, vehicles and facilities from doing their primary functions.

Deborah L. DeBiasi, Virginia DEQ
Office of Water Permits
Email:   Deborah.DeBiasi at deq.virginia.gov<mailto:Deborah.DeBiasi at deq.virginia.gov>
PH:         804-698-4028

From: pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us<mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us> [mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us] On Behalf Of Ed Gottlieb
Sent: Monday, June 01, 2015 1:54 PM
To: pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us<mailto:pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us>
Subject: RE: [Pharmwaste] Senators encourage reinstatement of DEA Take-Back Events

My answer to Jeff (below) is "yes",  more consumers would be safely dispose of unwanted medications if the DEA reinstated the Take Back Initiative.

I think it is a great idea for the DEA to reinstate the Take Back Initiative on an interim basis.  It was a hugely successful program that made it easy for almost 4000 law enforcement departments to have more than 5200 collection sites at the last take back event.  With the loss of DEA support, many of these communities no longer have a safe disposal option.

The new DEA rule allows, but does not mandate or fund, authorized distributors to apply to become a take back location.  Only time will tell how many pharmacies, reverse distributors, and narcotic treatment centers sign up to pay for controlled substance take back.

Also, as far as I have been able to determine, there are still nine states (AR, AZ, HI, IL, MN, MS, NY TX, CT) that have rules blocking authorized distributors from doing take back of controlled substances.  These states will eventually change their rules to be in compliance with the new DEA rule.

So far, I have not seen any evidence of large numbers of take back programs for controlled substances being approved.

The Supreme Court decision (to let a Federal District Court decision upholding the Alameda County EPR law stand) is encouraging and will certainly lead to similar laws being passed in other communities.  It is hard to imagine that this decision will lead to a sudden, large surge in similar laws.  I don't see it having much of an impact on the nationwide availability of safe disposal options in the near future.

Congress should direct the DEA to reinstate the Take Back Initiative.  The program should continue until there is evidence that ongoing programs (both voluntary and EPR mandated) are widely available throughout the nation.

Removing unwanted pharmaceuticals from homes and safely disposing of them helps address multiple problems of national significance:
illegal diversion
accidental overdoses
and
environmental contamination

The DEA supported program was effective, necessary, and a bargain!  If we help motivate Congress to act, it will be again.

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
________________________________
From: pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us<mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us> [pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us] on behalf of Jim Clark [jac20 at psu.edu]
Sent: Monday, June 01, 2015 12:58 PM
To: pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us<mailto:pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us>
Subject: RE: [Pharmwaste] Senators encourage reinstatement of DEA Take-Back Events
Does it make sense that we reinstate the DEA drug take back program and given the recent supreme court decision, that we have the pharmaceuticals pay for the DEA drug Take Back Program? What am I missing?
Jim Clark, Extension Educator

From: Gilliam, Allen [mailto:GILLIAM at adeq.state.ar.us]
Sent: Monday, June 01, 2015 8:58 AM
To: Jeff Hollar; pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us<mailto:pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us>
Subject: RE: [Pharmwaste] Senators encourage reinstatement of DEA Take-Back Events

Very good point Jeff,

The domino effect will begin I’m afraid.  Coming from 25+ yrs in Pretreatment and watching the Feds (EPA) continual disinvestment in the National Pretreatment Program over the last 15+ yrs, it’s already hit hard here at the state level and now being felt at the City level: “If the Feds see no importance in the program, why should we?” seems to be the wounded wolf’s final cry.

A lot of people don’t want “big government” (like myself to an extent), but without its presence in some worthwhile nat’l programs, those programs are doomed to wither on the vine.

Allen Gilliam
ADEQ State Pretreatment Coordinator
501.682.0625

From: pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us<mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us> [mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us] On Behalf Of Jeff Hollar
Sent: Saturday, May 30, 2015 7:18 AM
To: pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us<mailto:pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us>
Subject: [Pharmwaste] Senators encourage reinstatement of DEA Take-Back Events

Full Story:
http://www.capito.senate.gov/content/capito-and-manchin-call-reinstatement-national-drug-take-back-days

Wouldn’t more consumer drugs be disposed if they  reinstated the program?  Isn’t that a good thing?

Jeff Hollar
President
PharmWaste Technologies, Inc.
4164 NW Urbandale Dr., Ste A
Urbandale, IA 50322
515-276-5302 (general)
515-331-7310 (direct)
515-360-9785 (cell)
www.pwaste.com<http://www.pwaste.com/>

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