[Pharmwaste] DEC Announces First Round of Participating Pharmacies, Hospitals and Long-Term Care Facilities in State’s Pilot Drug ‘Take-Back’ Program

[Scott Cassel]

NYSDEC’s official announcement if you haven’t seen it.



[nys-brandmark_dec-black]





For Immediate Release: 12/28/2017

Contact: Erica Ringewald | (518) 402-8000

Press Office | PressOffice at dec.ny.gov<mailto:PressOffice at dec.ny.gov>


DEC ANNOUNCES FIRST ROUND OF PARTICIPATING PHARMACIES, HOSPITALS AND LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES IN STATE’S PILOT DRUG ‘TAKE-BACK’ PROGRAM
State’s Pharmaceutical Take-Back Pilot Program Will Improve Water Quality, Protect Public Health and Reduce Safety Risks
Retail Pharmacies, Hospitals and Long-Term Care Facilities Encouraged to Apply for Second Round of Pilot Program
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced the first group of participants in the State’s $2 million Pilot Pharmaceutical Take-Back Program. Participants include 80 retail pharmacies, hospitals, and long-term care facilities across the state.
The Pilot Pharmaceutical Take Back Program will officially begin accepting waste medications in April 2018, when medication collection boxes are delivered to and installed by participating pharmacies. Until then, the public is encouraged to use existing medication collection box locations, which can be found by visiting the DEC website http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/67720.html and clicking on NYS Medication Drop Box Locations link.
"By placing medication drop boxes in community pharmacies, hospitals and long-term care facilities, we are increasing opportunities for New Yorkers to properly and easily dispose of unwanted medications," said DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos. "Participants in New York’s free drug take-back program are protecting their communities and the environment.”

Under the drug take-back program, DEC will purchase medication collection boxes and pay for the disposal of waste pharmaceuticals collected by participating facilities for two years. Implementation of this pilot program will help improve water quality, protect public health by removing medications from home medicine cabinets, and reduce potential adverse impacts to fish and aquatic organisms.

            The statewide Pilot Pharmaceutical Take-Back Program is funded through the Environmental Protection Fund. Resources from the fund will be used to cover the full cost of purchasing U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration-compliant medication drop boxes, as well as the cost of pick up, transport, and destruction of collected waste pharmaceuticals for a two-year period.

            With technological advances in analytical techniques, it is now possible to detect low levels of drugs in surface water and groundwater. Some drugs pass largely unaltered through wastewater treatment plants and enter rivers and other waterways.
Flushed medications have been found in New York lakes, rivers, and streams and can negatively affect the waterways. A national study conducted in 1999 and 2000, by the U.S. Geological Survey found low levels of drugs such as antibiotics, hormones, contraceptives, and steroids in 80 percent of rivers and streams tested. Medications adversely affect fish and other aquatic wildlife and increase the development of drug-resistant bacteria.

            In addition, there are concerns about unused pharmaceuticals getting into the wrong hands. The Center for Disease Control reports that one U.S. citizen dies every 16 minutes from a drug overdose and has declared this public health threat an epidemic.

            The pilot program is open and is accepting applications. Retail pharmacies, hospitals, and long-term care facilities are encouraged to enroll online at the Pilot Pharmaceutical Take-Back Program web page on DEC's website http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/108213.html or at on.ny.gov/rxpilot<http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/108213.html>.

Senator Tom O'Mara, Chair of the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee, said, "It’s incredibly important to do anything and everything we can to complement and support the efforts of local law enforcement and other community leaders to combat prescription drug abuse.  These efforts include National Prescription Drug Take- Back Days and other initiatives like this one to encourage the collection, and safe and responsible disposal of unused medications. New York's program to expand the number of permanent, locally based drop-off locations is a very positive addition to the state's ongoing, overall effort to protect our communities and local environments.”

“Expired, unwanted and unused pharmaceutical drugs require proper disposal in order to prevent unintended environmental harm. Studies have detected widespread drug contamination in water. This pilot program will help keep these contaminants out of our water.  It is always less expensive to prevent pollution than to have to pay to clean it up,” said Assemblyman Steve Englebright, Chair of the Assembly Committee on Environmental Conservation.

"By providing safe drug take-back locations to New York residents at convenient locations such as pharmacies, long-term care facilities, and grocery stores, this program will help address drug abuse and reduce water quality impacts throughout the state," said Scott Cassel, chief executive officer and founder of the Product Stewardship Institute, which has promoted drug take-back nationwide for the past decade. “However, sustainable funding from drug manufacturers – mandated through extended producer responsibility laws – is still needed to make these programs effective on a state or national scale.”

“Pharmacists in New York look forward to continuing to work with DEC, the Legislature and the Governor to help our customers safely and conveniently dispose of unused medications,” said Roxanne Richardson, President, Pharmacists’ Society of the State of New York.

“We would like to thank the Department of Environmental Conservation for their collaborative approach to protecting public health and the environment. The Food Industry Alliance is very grateful for this unique opportunity to help ensure the adoption of best practices throughout the industry," Maston Sansom, FIA Vice President.

“This statewide program is a significant turning point in the battle to keep drugs out of our waters and out of the hands of potential abusers. We know the public will stop flushing unwanted drugs when safe disposal options are safe, convenient and free. CCE fought hard for the inclusion of funds in the state budget for this critical program and we are thrilled the DEC has crafted this ideal program and it will be starting in April. Protecting our waters and the public from risky exposure to prescription drugs should be everyone’s goal. Prescription drugs should come from our pharmacists not from our faucets,” said Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment.


List of Initial Awardees - Pilot Pharmaceutical Take-Back Program

Regional Economic Development Councils

County

Awardee

Long Island

Nassau

Franklin Square Pharmacy Inc.
925 Hemptead Tpke
Franklin Square, NY 11010

Long Island

Nassau

Specialty Rx servicing Nassau Extended Care Center
1 Greenwich St
Hempstead, NY 11550

Long Island

Nassau

Smith Pharmacy
53 N Broadway
Hicksville, NY 11801

Long Island

Nassau

Savall Drug
393 Merrick Ave N
Merrick, NY 11566

Long Island

Suffolk

Specialty Rx servicing Ross Healthcare Center
839 Suffolk Ave
Brentwood, NY 11717

Long Island

Suffolk

112 Pharmacy and Surgical
689 Medford Ave
East Patchogue, NY 11772

Long Island

Suffolk

Country Village Chemists
227 E Main St
Huntington, NY 11743

Long Island

Suffolk

Specialty Rx servicing The Hamptons Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing
64 County Rd 39
South Hampton, NY 11968

Long Island

Suffolk

Southrifty Drug
54 Jagger Ln
Southampton, NY 11968

Long Island

Suffolk

Pharmscript NJ/St James Rehab
275 Moriches Rd
St James, NY 11780

Long Island

Suffolk

Stony Brook Student Health Services
1 Stadium Rd
Stony Brook, NY 11794-3191

New York City

Bronx

Arthur Avenue Pharmacy
2343 Arthur Ave
Bronx, NY 10458

New York City

Bronx

Mt. Carmel Pharmacy Inc.
705 E 187th St
Bronx, NY 10458

New York City

Bronx

RND Pharmacy Inc d/b/a Casa de Vida Pharmacy
52 W Burnside Ave
Bronx, NY 10453

New York City

Bronx

Specialty Rx servicing Throgs Neck Rehab and Nursing
707 Throgs Neck Expressway
Bronx, NY 10465

New York City

Kings

Euro Chemist Pharmacy
669 Manhattan Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11222

New York City

Kings

Jojan Pharma Inc.
121 Saint Nicholas Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11237

New York City

Kings

MRR Pharma Inc.
6220 11th Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11219

New York City

Kings

Vijan Pharma Inc.
312 Ralph Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11233

New York City

Kings

Lindenwood Rx Center servicing BRC Chemical Dependency Crisis Center
1380 Loring Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11208

New York City

New York

Life Pharma II Inc.
471 Lenox Ave
New York, NY 10037

New York City

Queens

Specialty Rx servicing Cypress Gardens Center
139-66 35th Ave
Flushing, NY 11354

New York City

Queens

Jan Pharma Inc.
311 Saint Nicholas Ave
Ridgewood, NY 11385

New York City

Richmond

Specialty Rx servicing Staten Island Care Center
200 Lafayette Ave
Staten Island, NY 10301

Mid-Hudson

Orange

Specialty Rx servicing Cold Spring Hills for Nursing and Rehab
378 Syosset-Woodbury Rd
Woodbury, NY 11797

Mid-Hudson

Rockland

Pharmscript NJ/Pine Valley
661 N Main St
Spring Valley, NY 10977

Mid-Hudson

Ulster

Dedrick's Pharmacy
190 Main St
New Paltz, NY 12561

Mid-Hudson

Ulster

Saugerties Pharmacy
250 Main St
Saugerties, NY 12477

Mid-Hudson

Ulster

Village Apothecary
79 Tinker St
Woodstock, NY 12498

Mid-Hudson

Westchester

Pharmscript NJ/Fieldhome
2300 Catherine St
Cortlandt, NY 10567

Mid-Hudson

Westchester

Dobbs Ferry Pharmacy
18 Cedar St
Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522

Mid-Hudson

Westchester


Fishkill Pharmacy LLC dba The Medicine Shoppe
1004 Main St Bldg 554
Fishkill, NY 12524

Mid-Hudson

Westchester

Trotta's West Street Pharmacy
15 Halstead Ave
Harrison, NY 10528

Mid-Hudson

Westchester

Taconic Pharmacy
3659 Lee Rd
Jefferson Valley, NY 10535

Mid-Hudson

Westchester

Larchmont Pharmacy
2141 Palmer Ave
Larchmont, NY 10538

Mid-Hudson

Westchester

Northern Westchester Rx Center
19 E Main St
Mount Kisco, NY 10549

Mid-Hudson

Westchester

New Rochelle Prescription Center
551 Main St
New Rochelle, NY 10801

Mid-Hudson

Westchester

HealthSmart Pharmacy
203 Main St
Ossining, NY 10562

Mid-Hudson

Westchester

Pharmscript NJ/Somers Manor
189 Route 100
Somers, NY 10589

Mid-Hudson

Westchester

Sunshine Pharmacy
276 Main St
White Plains, NY 10601

Mid-Hudson

Westchester

Grassy Sprain Pharmacy
640 Tuckahoe Rd
Yonkers, NY 10710

Mid-Hudson

Westchester

Lemac Pharmacy
623 McLean Ave
Yonkers, NY 10705

Mid-Hudson

Westchester

Sunrise Pharmacy
2 Park Ave
Yonkers, NY 10703

Mid-Hudson

Westchester

Specialty Rx servicing Adira at Riverside Rehabilitation
120 Odell Ave
Yonkers, NY 10701

Capital Region

Albany

Marra's Pharmacy
217 Remsen St
Cohoes, NY 12047

Capital Region

Albany

Four Corners Pharmacy LLC
360 Delaware Ave
Delmar, NY 12054

Capital Region

Columbia

Hannaford Supermarket & Pharmacy
2967 Route 9 Ste 400
Valatie, NY 12184

Capital Region

Rensselaer

Young's Pharmacy & General Store, LLC
1636 Burden Lake Rd
Averill Park, NY 12018

Capital Region

Schenectady

Hannaford Supermarket & Pharmacy
1400 Altamont Ave
Schenectady, NY 12303

Southern Tier

Delaware

Margaretville Hospital Pharmacy
42084 NY-28
Margaretville, NY 12455

North Country

Clinton

Condo Pharmacy
28 Montcalm Ave
Plattsburgh, NY 12901

North Country

Clinton

Cornerstone Drug & Gift, Inc.
72 Champlain St
Rouses Point, NY 12979

North Country

Essex

Elizabethtown Community Hospital
75 Park St
Elizabethtown, NY 12932

North Country

Essex

Keeseville Pharmacy, Inc.
1730 Front St
Keeseville, NY 12944

North Country

Essex

Adirondack Apothecary
4315 Main St
Port Henry, NY 12974

North Country

Franklin

Alice Hyde Medical Center
133 Park St
Malone, NY 12953

North Country

Warren

Stone's Pharmacy Inc.
1 Main St
Lake Luzerne, NY 12846

Mohawk Valley

Herkimer

The Medicine Shoppe
10 Central Ave
Ilion, NY 13357

Mohawk Valley

Lewis

Lewis County General Hospital
7785 N State St
Lowville, NY 13367

Mohawk Valley

Oneida

Harpell Chemists
12-65 150th St
Whitestone, NY 11357

Central New York

Onondaga

Pharmscript NY/Loretto
700 E Brighton Ave
Syracuse, NY 13205

Southern Tier

Tompkins

Cayuga Medical Center at Ithaca
101 Dates Dr
Ithaca, NY 14850

Finger Lakes

Wayne

Galen’s Health Mart Pharmacy
17 Sodus St
Clyde, NY 14433

Finger Lakes

Wyoming

Sinclair Pharmacy
75 N Main St
Warsaw, NY 14569

Western New York

Allegany

Alfred Pharmacy, Inc.
36 N Main St
Alfred, NY 14802

Western New York

Allegany

Friendship Pharmacy
9 W Main St
Friendship, NY 14739

Western New York

Cattaraugus

Vic Vena Pharmacy
1322 W State St
Olean, NY 14760

Western New York

Chautauqua

Heritage Village Rehab and Skilled Nursing Inc.
4570 Route 60
Gerry, NY 14740

Western New York

Chautauqua

Heritage Green Rehab and Skilled Nursing Inc.
3023 Route 430
Greenhurst, NY 14742

Western New York

Chautauqua

Heritage Park Rehab and Skilled Nursing Inc.
150 Prather Ave
Jamestown, NY 14701

Western New York

Erie

Alden Pharmacy
13203 Broadway St
Alden, NY 14004

Western New York

Erie

Tile Pharmacy
1031 Cleveland Dr
Cheektowaga, NY 14225

Western New York

Erie

Transit Hill Pharmacy
6344 Transit Rd
Depew, NY 14043

Western New York

Erie

Cy's Elma Pharmacy
2317 Bowen Rd
Elma, NY 14059

Western New York

Erie

Wanakah Pharmacy
4923 Lakeshore Rd
Hamburg, NY 14075

Western New York

Erie

Holland Pharmacy, Inc.
19 N Main St
Holland, NY 14080

Western New York

Niagara

Family Pharmacy Plus
320 S Transit St
Lockport, NY 14094

Western New York

Niagara

Moden-Giroux, Inc d/b/a Middleport Family Health Center
81 Rochester Rd
Middleport, NY 14105-0188

Western New York

Niagara

Summit Park Pharmacy
2578 Niagara Falls Blvd
Niagara Falls, NY 14304

Western New York

Niagara

Wurlitzer Family Pharmacy Inc.
521 Division St
North Tonawanda, NY 14120




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