[Pharmwaste] CNBC: It's a nationwide opioid epidemic: Do you know what's in your pill cabinet?"

[Volkman, Jennifer (MPCA)]

Until the FDA directive to flush controlled substances goes away...

From: Pharmwaste [mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us] On Behalf Of Ed Gottlieb
Sent: Wednesday, September 13, 2017 4:12 PM
To: pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
Subject: [Pharmwaste] CNBC: It's a nationwide opioid epidemic: Do you know what's in your pill cabinet?"

"It's a nationwide opioid epidemic: Do you know what's in your pill cabinet?" https://www.cnbc.com/2017/09/13/american-hoarders-helping-push-up-rates-of-opioid-addiction-overdose.html

Sent feedback:

Thanks for covering this vital topic!
1. Take-back is the preferred method of disposal according to the DEA, EPA, FDA, etc.  You should not talk about flushing first!  Flushing is an option for a side note, if mentioned at all: only use for a few medications listed by FDA and only if take-back is not available.  Otherwise it should not be used at all.
2. The statement, "Even year-round drop-off at select sites lacks a key component: incentive." is incorrect.  Take-back is fairly new in the U.S., other countries have long running programs and none need or use incentives to have high participation rates.  French program awareness: 77% of the population returns unused medicines to the pharmacist, 70% of which responded "always".*  Convenience and program promotion are key to high participation rates.
* https://calpsc.org/mobius/cpsc-content/uploads/2015/05/France_Fact_Sheet_FINAL_2_3_2015.pdf
from:  https://calpsc.org/products/pharmaceuticals/
3.  Building on many local and two state extended producer responsibility laws, we need a federal law mandating a take-back program, to be organized and paid for by drug manufactures, with well defined convenience requirements.

Thanks for your consideration!

Ed Gottlieb
Chair, Coalition for Safe Medication Disposal
Board Member, New York Product Stewardship Council
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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