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<p style='text-align:justify'><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>The Maine Benzodiazepine
Study Group is refocusing and Unused Medicine will now become a dedicated section
of our monthly meetings. An announcement of the details will be sent early next
week, but wanted to pass on the invitation for anyone on the pharmwaste list to
join us in an effort to broaden the communication paths. Details will be in
that announcement.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style='text-align:justify'><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p style='text-align:justify'><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>The December 20<sup>th</sup>
meeting of the Maine Benzodiazepine Study Group (MBSG) will be more structured
than in the past and will first of all entail a focusing of content. The first
half, from 5:00-5:45 pm (EST) will be coordinated by Dr.'s Mugford, Gressitt
and Kaye. This portion of the meeting will address the central epidemiological
and clinical issues surrounding the class of benzodiazepines with policy
discussion as relevant. Agenda items are invited and should be sent to Len Kaye
at: </span></font><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><a
href="mailto:len.kaye@umit.maine.edu" target="_blank"><font size=2><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;text-decoration:none'>len.kaye@umit.maine.edu</span></font></a></span></font><font
size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'> . </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style='text-align:justify'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>The
second half of the tele-video conference (</span></font><font size=2
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'> </span></font><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>5:45-6:30 pm) will
address the issues and charge growing out of both our first conference (in
October 2005) and <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Maine</st1:place></st1:State>
legislation. The discussion will focus on prescription drug misuse through
developing and encouraging Unused Medicine Return programs and support of the
Registry for Unused Medicine in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">United States</st1:country-region></st1:place>. This portion of the
meeting will be coordinated by Dr's Gressitt and Mirelles and agenda items
should be sent to Stevan Gressitt at: </span></font><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><a
href="mailto:gressitt@uninets.net" target="_blank"><font size=2><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;text-decoration:none'>gressitt@uninets.net</span></font></a></span></font><font
size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'> .</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style='text-align:justify'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Although
the original unused medicine return legislation was passed on grounds it would
hopefully address: 1) reducing childhood accidental poisonings; 2) reduce
" pharming" and other household diversion; 3) curtail excessive
accumulation particularly among the elderly; and 4) limit environmental impact
of unused medication, another rationale must unfortunately now be added. As a
result of good intentions both for Southeast Asia and now Pakistan and other
sites of disaster, large quantities of unusable pharmaceutical donations have
accumulated with heavy burdens both on the recipient countries, agencies,
healthcare workers both in time, storage requirements and cost of destruction.
The new 5th reason therefore is to both curtail improper donations and
encourage good donation practices according to guidelines already clearly
established internationally and to provide education around these practices. </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style='text-align:justify'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> <u><font color=black><span style='color:black'>Nominations
for New Steering Committees Sought</span></font></u><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style='text-align:justify'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style='text-align:justify'><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>As the MBSG plans for
2006, we are announcing an open invitation for nominations for membership
on three (3) new steering committees: 1) one for the MBSG itself; 2) one for
the Unused Medicine Project; and 3) one for the Drug Policy Group. There are no
geographical restrictions or any other criteria restricting eligibility for
membership on the three committees save an interest in furthering the goals and
objectives of the group. Those who are interested in lending their time,
expertise and/or financial and other resources should forward their names and
contact information to the appropriate contact person below. The composition of
the three committees will be announced in January 2006. </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style='text-align:justify'><b><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;font-weight:bold'>2. Unused
Medicine Project</span></font></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style='text-align:justify'><u><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Contact</span></font></u><font
size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'> : Stevan Gressitt, M.D.(e-mail: </span></font><font size=2
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'><a href="mailto:gressitt@uninets.net" target="_blank"><font
size=2><span style='font-size:11.0pt;text-decoration:none'>gressitt@uninets.net</span></font></a>)</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style='text-align:justify'><b><u><font size=4 color=black
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black;font-weight:
bold'>Updating the MBSG Membership Directory and Contact Information</span></font></u></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style='text-align:justify'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> <b><i><font color=black><span style='color:black;
font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>Finally, please note that we will be
updating the entire MBSG mailing list in the next two months. We will
appreciate your providing us with any changes in your title, organizational
affiliation, mailing address, and e-mail address at this time. Please send
those to Stevan Gressitt at </span></font></i></b></span></font><b><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'><a
href="mailto:gressitt@uninets.net" target="_blank"><font size=2><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;text-decoration:none'>gressitt@uninets.net</span></font></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></b></p>
<p style='text-align:justify'><b><i><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;font-weight:bold;
font-style:italic'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></i></b></p>
<p style='text-align:justify'><b><i><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;font-weight:bold;
font-style:italic'>Stevan Gressitt, M.D.</span></font></i></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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