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<p>Good point, Ed.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I believe it would also be accurate to state that xxx,xxx lbs of controlled substances have been collected as a result of pharmaceutical collection programs nation wide (getting a total would be tough, but we're easily in the 10's of thousands of pounds).
If collection of thousands of pounds kept 1 pound of CS from being diverted from abuse, then there has been an impact. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Most all messaging in MN seeks to educate people on why they should use the 80+ collection sites in MN. "Proper disposal" is not always a great motivator. For pharms we point to three sets of data: abuse statistics, poisoning statistics and measured environmental
impacts. I do believe that all of our efforts have raised awareness of the abuse potential, which we all know is something most of our friends and neighbors haven't even thought about, because we've talked with them and have seen the lightbulb go on. I don't
see how that can't be helping. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>DEA seems to recognize this as well, which is why they've tried to do collection events, combined with abuse education messages for the past 3 years.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Providing convenient collection opportunities, plus giving people good reasons to use them, plus data that shows they do use them equals...no impact?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>We haven't even busted out our other ace--waste prevention. How does all this data add up to help reduce what accumulates in our cabinets in the first place? Maine has the obvious answer to that already with regulations that limit the number of pills for
initial prescriptions for a list of medications. This was a direct result of their mail back program. We are pretty well poised to start pushing toward prevention. Nevermind that it will take another 10 years, that's what we do. Slowly but surely.
</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Keep up the great work everyone! </p>
<p> </p>
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<div style="DIRECTION: ltr" id="divRpF471698"><font color="#000000" size="2" face="Tahoma"><b>From:</b> pharmwaste-bounces@lists.dep.state.fl.us [pharmwaste-bounces@lists.dep.state.fl.us] on behalf of Ed Gottlieb [egottlieb@cityofithaca.org]<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Friday, March 02, 2012 11:47 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> Zachary Laris<br>
<b>Cc:</b> Daniel Ramer; pharmwaste@lists.dep.state.fl.us<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Pharmwaste] Prescription Drug Takeback Programs & Substance Abuse Policy<br>
</font><br>
</div>
<div></div>
<div>
<div>Dear Mr. Laris,</div>
<div> </div>
<div>I'm sure you recall that I provided you with information about the costs and results of the drug takeback program run by the CSMD in Tompkins County, NY.
</div>
<div> </div>
<div>I read the Policy Brief for your examination of prescription drug takeback programs at
<a href="http://carnevaleassociates.com/takebacks" target="_blank">http://carnevaleassociates.com/takebacks</a>.
</div>
<div> </div>
<div>In the opening summary paragraph, Carnevale says, "In addition, we found no evidence that takeback programs affect prescription drug abuse." I'm quite shocked to read this very misleading statement! It creates the strong impression that you looked at
evidence and concluded that takeback programs do not affect prescription drug abuse. This is not the case. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>In this same Policy Brief, in the paragraph titled, "Assessing Takebacks: Little is Known" you state, "In fact, no research has been conducted to investigate takebacks’ effect on prescription drug abuse." If no research has been done on the question, a neutral
conclusion would be appropriate. Wouldn't a more accurate summation be, "Data doesn't exist to determine if takeback programs affect prescription drug abuse."? </div>
<div> </div>
<div>I hope you be able to address this issue in a meaningful way.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Thanks for your consideration.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Sincerely,</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Ed Gottlieb</div>
<div>Chair, Coalition for Safe Medication Disposal<br>
Industrial Pretreatment Coordinator<br>
Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Facility<br>
525 3rd Street<br>
Ithaca, NY 14850<br>
(607) 273-8381<br>
fax: (607) 273-8433<br>
<br>
>>> "Zachary Laris" <zachary@carnevaleassociates.com> 5/5/2011 1:34 PM >>><br>
Thank you Mr. Gottlieb, this is most helpful.<br>
<br>
Best,<br>
Zach<br>
<br>
Zachary Laris<br>
Junior Policy Analyst<br>
Carnevale Associates, LLC<br>
Mobile: (202) 230-7664<br>
Zachary@carnevaleassociates.com<br>
<br>
-----Original Message-----<br>
From: Ed Gottlieb [mailto:egottlieb@cityofithaca.org] <br>
Sent: Thursday, May 05, 2011 10:25 AM<br>
To: Zachary Laris<br>
Subject: Budget reports.<br>
<br>
Mr. Laris,<br>
<br>
I am attaching budget reports for all three collections. <br>
Additional materials were donated by various agencies involved: small<br>
plastic bags (a no longer used type), flier printing (about 200 color<br>
pages), poster printing (9, 2x3'), disposable rubber gloves, tape, etc. <br>
<br>
I still hope to get you a total hours worked & paid hours (including at<br>
least some with $/hr) report for the April 9th collection.<br>
<br>
Best,<br>
<br>
Ed<br>
<br>
>>> "Zachary Laris" <zachary@carnevaleassociates.com> 5/4/2011 10:32 AM <br>
>>> >>><br>
Mr. Gottlieb,<br>
<br>
I am most appreciative of your time and assistance in sending along the<br>
information on your take back events. This provides great insight into the<br>
workings of your program. Unfortunately, an honorarium is not something my<br>
firm can provide. If you are interested in providing further information to<br>
assist in take back cost effectiveness research we would be greatly<br>
appreciative. However, we fully understand that your time is valuable and<br>
that may not be possible. Either way, thank you again for your help.<br>
<br>
Best Regards,<br>
Zach<br>
<br>
Zachary Laris<br>
Junior Policy Analyst<br>
Carnevale Associates, LLC<br>
Mobile: (202) 230-7664<br>
Zachary@carnevaleassociates.com <br>
<br>
-----Original Message-----<br>
From: Ed Gottlieb [mailto:egottlieb@cityofithaca.org]<br>
Sent: Wednesday, May 04, 2011 9:08 AM<br>
To: Zachary Laris<br>
Subject: Re: Take Back Follow Up<br>
<br>
Dear Mr. Laris,<br>
<br>
I am sending you data on individual contribution weights (with packaging),<br>
survey results, and final reports for our three events. I am also sending<br>
the hours worked data that I have (haven't collected this information for<br>
our third event, though I could), some expense reports, some photos, and<br>
other information. All will be attached in multiple emails to assure they<br>
are not over any delivery limit.<br>
<br>
As far as I have been able to determine, our first event collected more<br>
weight of medications than any other one day, one location collection in the<br>
nation.<br>
<br>
To see the seven part "how-to organize a pharm waste collection video" we<br>
had made go to:<br>
<a href="http://www.takebacknetwork.com/about.html" target="_blank">http://www.takebacknetwork.com/about.html</a><br>
This URL also has a link to the inventory data base spreadsheet we<br>
developed. This contains the detailed inventory data from our second and<br>
third events (sort by date.)<br>
<br>
I would be happy to respond more fully to your request. For example, I know<br>
you want to know the hours worked for the third event and how many of the<br>
reported hours worked were paid and at what rate. I could also answer<br>
further questions by phone or email, provide more event photos (at higher<br>
resolution), etc. I am wondering if a small honorarium might be available<br>
to justify the additional time commitment? <br>
<br>
Regards,<br>
<br>
<br>
Ed Gottlieb<br>
Industrial Pretreatment Coordinator<br>
Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Facility<br>
525 3rd Street<br>
Ithaca, NY 14850<br>
(607) 273-8381<br>
fax: (607) 273-8433<br>
<br>
<br>
>>> "Zachary Laris" <zachary@carnevaleassociates.com> 4/27/2011 12:22 PM <br>
>>> >>><br>
Mr. Gottlieb,<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Thank you for discussing Ithaca's take back program with me this morning.<br>
Carnevale Associates specializes in substance abuse policy, and we are<br>
gathering information on take back programs nationwide as part of an<br>
inventory and assessment of current programs. Specifically, we are<br>
interested in understanding program costs, and linking those costs to<br>
outcome measures wherever possible. Our ultimate goal is to gain an<br>
understanding of the most cost-effective take back program components. <br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
I would love the opportunity to take a look at any and all survey<br>
information your program has gathered, as well as data on what particularly<br>
your program has collected at the events. If it would be possible for you<br>
to provide more detailed cost information regarding each individual event<br>
(staff time and cost breakdowns for each event, ad costs, materials,<br>
destruction, etc.) that would be most helpful. Also if you have any<br>
thoughts you'd like to share generally about programmatic changes you've<br>
implemented as you've held programs and learned ways to improve them.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Because we're performing this work under contract, the reports generated<br>
remain the property of our client. As a result, we are not permitted to<br>
share them. However, I'm happy to report your interest and pass along your<br>
contact information. As a matter of policy, we do not disclose our client<br>
information for specific projects. We work for a variety of organizations<br>
including the federal government, state and local governments, academic and<br>
other non-profit institutions, and private industry. If you're interested<br>
in taking a look at a (non-exhaustive) list of our clients and the type of<br>
work we have done in the past, you can take a look at our website<br>
<<a href="http://www.carnevaleassociates.com/" target="_blank">http://www.carnevaleassociates.com/</a>> . Carnevale Associates also plans to<br>
stay involved with take back issues after this project ends, and I'd be more<br>
than happy to send you any subsequent in-house materials that we produce in<br>
this area. Thank you again for your time and assistance.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Best Regards,<br>
<br>
Zach Laris<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Zachary Laris<br>
<br>
Junior Policy Analyst<br>
<br>
Carnevale Associates, LLC<br>
<br>
Mobile: (202) 230-7664<br>
<br>
Zachary@carnevaleassociates.com <br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
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