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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A
href="http://www.prlog.org/10170753-teleosis-institute-releases-green-pharmacy-toolkit.html">http://www.prlog.org/10170753-teleosis-institute-releases-green-pharmacy-toolkit.html</A></FONT></DIV>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=left><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3><STRONG><FONT size=2>FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE</FONT></STRONG> </FONT></o:p></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p></o:p><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">TELEOSIS INSTITUTE RELEASES “GREEN PHARMACY
TOOLKIT”</FONT></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Substantial<SPAN class=390024823-21012009></SPAN>
Reduction in Pharmaceutical Pollution Possible</FONT></SPAN></I></B></P>
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face="Times New Roman"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"></B></FONT></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Berkeley, CA –
January 22, 2008.</B><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>After safely
collecting and disposing over 5,000 pounds of consumer pharmaceutical waste, the
Teleosis Institute is pleased to release the <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Green Pharmacy Toolkit: <SPAN class=style4>A
Guide to Creating an Environmentally Safe Medicine Disposal Program</SPAN>.</I>
The toolkit offers a step-by-step guide for any pharmacy, medical or dental
clinic to implement a medicine take-back program, while effectively promoting
environmental health and pharmaceutical safety.</FONT></FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>A significant number of medicines from households go unused or expire,
and there are few convenient and safe methods for disposing of them in the
U.S. Unused medicines stored in the home or improperly disposed of often
result in accidental poisonings, drug diversion or abuse, and environmental
contamination. Medicines that are flushed down the drain are not removed by the
wastewater treatment plants. Over 80% of waterways tested in the U.S. show
traces of common medications and have the potential to impact aquatic
organisms. The Green Pharmacy Program offers communities a safe and secure
method for collecting and properly disposing of unwanted medicines.</FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>According to Peter Koshland, Pharmacy Director at Elephant Pharmacy, “We
are simply providing our customers a service in response to the increasing
awareness of the environmental impacts of improperly disposed medications. The
Green Pharmacy Program shows our patients that we put our environmental beliefs
into action.”</FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">The Green Pharmacy Toolkit is the first of its kind to
offer instructions for developing, operating, and maintaining a permanent
pharmaceutical take-back program.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>The toolkit includes extensive staff training and outreach materials as
well as posters, brochures and access to the most up-to-date information on the
ongoing research efforts of the Teleosis Institute’s Green Pharmacy Program.
<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Sponsors of the Green Pharmacy
Program include: Abbott Fund, Integrated Waste Control, Pharmaca Integrative
Pharmacy, Elephant Pharm, Kaiser Permanente, and <SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.</SPAN><SPAN
style="COLOR: red"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>“Teleosis gave Pharmaca the opportunity to put our environmental
philosophy into practice.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This
partnership gave us the tools to educate customers about the responsible
medication disposal.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>By expanding
the program, Teleosis can help communities improve the health of our water
resources dramatically” says Alexis Speros, communication Manager at Pharmaca
Integrative Pharmacy.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In November
of 2008, Pharmaca announced a commitment to operate pharmaceutical take-backs in
all of their 22 locations in the <st1:place w:st="on">Western U.S.</st1:place>
</FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>Currently the Green Pharmacy Program is expanding from 15 pilot </FONT><A
href="http://www.teleosis.org/gpp-locations.php"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
color=#800080 size=3>take-back sites</FONT></A><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> [www.teleosis.org/gpp-locations.php] (at San Francisco Bay Area
pharmacies, doctor and dental offices, veterinarian hospitals, health care
facilities) to a national program that will enlist hundreds of locations
throughout the United States.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Staff
at take-back sites screen for controlled substances, which are turned away
because of current DEA restrictions.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Medications collected at take-back sites are incinerated, currently the
most environmentally safe method of destruction.</FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>“I’m pleased to be able to expand our reach with the Green Pharmacy
Toolkit” says Dr. Joel Kreisberg, executive director of the Teleosis Institute.
<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>“I believe this will have a
significant impact on reducing pharmaceutical pollution while promoting health
and safety for people and the environment.”<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The Green Pharmacy Toolkit uses a
product stewardship approach to “green” the pharmaceutical life-cycle and calls
on all stakeholders to get involved.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>The toolkit can be purchased online at </FONT><A
href="http://www.greenpharmacyprogram.com/"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
color=#0066cc size=3>www.greenpharmacyprogram.com</FONT></A><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">About The
Teleosis Institute:</B><BR>The Teleosis Institute is an educational non-profit
organization devoted to reducing the environmental impact of health care. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The Institute promotes sustainable
medical practices and works in partnership with the health care community to
build a movement for positive social and environmental change. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Our programs and educational materials
include: The Green Health Care Program, The Green Pharmacy Program, and
Leadership Training in Green Health Care. </FONT></FONT><A
href="http://www.teleosis.org/"><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#800080
size=3>www.teleosis.org</FONT></A><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>
</FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P><o:p>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Contact:<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 7">
</SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>Evin Guy</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>Teleosis Institute </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>1521B Fifth Street </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>Berkeley, CA 94710</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=3>510.558.7285 x10<SPAN
class=390024823-21012009>4</SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3><A href="mailto:evin@teleosis.org">evin@teleosis.org</A></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3></FONT> </P></o:p>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" align=left><FONT size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold'"><FONT
face=Arial></FONT></SPAN></FONT></P><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold'"><FONT
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" align=left><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold'"><A
href="http://www.teleosis.org/gpp-program.php"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
color=#008000><EM><STRONG>Helping Communities Safely Dispose of Unwanted
Medicine</STRONG></EM></FONT></A></SPAN><o:p></o:p></P></SPAN>
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