[Pharmwaste] How Should Drug Take-Back Work?

Ed Gottlieb EGottlieb at cityofithaca.org
Mon Nov 30 14:36:41 EST 2015


California Healthline "Think Tank" discussion: How Should Drug Take-Back Work?
http://www.californiahealthline.org/think-tank/2015/how-should-drug-takeback-work

Overview story then three panelists provide their opinions.

I strongly disagree with John Murphy (Assistant general counsel, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America), especially:
"mandated take-back programs will increase the burden on the environment, because individuals will have to travel to drop-off sites and a completely new waste disposal infrastructure will have to be created. Collecting medicines in identifiable drop-off sites will also increase the risk for diversion of medicines for drug use disorders."
I venture to say that the other panelists would have offered rebuttals, similar to the following, if they had been given the chance.

1. With EPR, most drop offs will be at pharmacies where the environmental burden of travel will generally be non-existent since drop off will almost always be combined with shopping trips.
2. Infrastructure costs, such as drop boxes and warehouses, will be moderate and can be amortized over many years.
3. Collecting medications in identifiable drop-off sites will decrease the risk of diversion.  It is well established that the majority of prescription medications that are illegally diverted are obtained from homes.  As take back programs reach additional communities and become more convenient, increasing amounts of unwanted medications will be removed from homes and easy access.

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
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