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<div style="direction: ltr;font-family: Tahoma;color: #000000;font-size: 10pt;">Hi Folks,<br>
<br>
I have learned that Monday's Media Teleconference is for Media only, callers will be screened before being allowed to participate. That is probably a good thing since I've heard that the Media Advisory is being passed around to many interested stakeholders.
It would have been smart if the Advisory had mentioned that a call for stakeholders is also in the works. Fell free to pass this on to stakeholders you know who are planning on calling in.<br>
<br>
The White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs is working with the DEA and the Office of National Drug Control Policy to organize a stakeholders conference call. Details are still being worked out. They suggested that any input about the stakeholder
call be sent to them in writing. I am about to send them my questions and comments (see below). You can contact them directly with your input at:
<span tabindex="-1" contenteditable="false"><span _acu="1" id="spnR" tabindex="-1" class="rwRR" _ao="3" _rf="0" _rt="SMTP" _em="ondcp-oipl@ondcp.eop.gov" title="ondcp-oipl@ondcp.eop.gov" _sa="ondcp-oipl@ondcp.eop.gov" _dn="ondcp-oipl@ondcp.eop.gov" contenteditable="false">ondcp-oipl@ondcp.eop.gov</span></span>
<br>
<br>
This list-serve is a type of media outlet, so I still feel it is appropriate for a couple of folks to call in to represent us. Other commitments will limit the amount of time I have to review the rule Monday morning before the call, so I am removing myself
as a possible media rep for this conference call. I do not know if it will be recorded.<br>
<br>
<span lang="en-US"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><font color="black" face="Tahoma,sans-serif" size="2"><span style="font-size:10pt;">Ed Gottlieb</span></font><font color="black" face="Tahoma,sans-serif" size="2"><span style="font-size:10pt;"><br>
Chair, Coalition for Safe Medication Disposal </span></font><font color="black" face="Tahoma,sans-serif" size="2"><span style="font-size:10pt;"><br>
Industrial Pretreatment Coordinator </span></font><font color="black" face="Tahoma,sans-serif" size="2"><span style="font-size:10pt;"><br>
Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Facility</span></font><font color="black" face="Tahoma,sans-serif" size="2"><span style="font-size:10pt;"><br>
525 3</span></font><font color="black" face="Tahoma,sans-serif" size="-1"><sup>rd</sup></font><font color="black" face="Tahoma,sans-serif" size="2"><span style="font-size:10pt;"> Street</span></font><font color="black" face="Tahoma,sans-serif" size="2"><span style="font-size:10pt;"><br>
Ithaca, NY 14850</span></font><font color="black" face="Tahoma,sans-serif" size="2"><span style="font-size:10pt;"><br>
(607) 273-8381</span></font><font color="black" face="Tahoma,sans-serif" size="2"><span style="font-size:10pt;"><br>
fax: (607) 273-8433</span></font></span></font></span><br>
<br>
<br>
1. Thanks for organizing a Stakeholders conference call<br>
<br>
2. You may want to follow-up the recent Media Advisory with a notice that a separate stakeholders conference call will happen soon. As it is, the call screeners for Monday's call will probably have their hands full, screening out stakeholders from media.
I have heard that the Advisory is being widely circulated. <br>
<br>
3.<b> In the Media Conference Call, please stress that they must let the public know that it will be some time before pharmacies will be able take their medications, and some many not all.</b> Their local pharmacy may choose not participate at all. For those
that do, the law does not take effect until Oct 9, the DEA application process to accept controlled will take time (more or less depending on the application process) and implementing a program (purchasing/installing boxes & training staff) will also take
time. Though it is possible pharmacies have been privately preparing programs, it is likely they have been waiting to read the final rule so they don't need to redo pieces that doesn't meet the requirements of the final Rule.<br>
<br>
If this, possibly multi-month, delay is not stressed, I can imagine a <b>flood</b> of medications going into the trash or down a toilet when people, excited by the news, finally collect their unwanted meds only to be turned away at the pharmacy. I think a
significant number of these frustrated people will want to get rid of their medications that day rather than store them, waiting for a local program to start.
<br>
<br>
4. For the Stakeholders Conference Call, what stakeholders be contacted? Will they include:<br>
a. Everyone who submitted a public comment on the draft rule?<br>
b. Law Enforcement and Pharmacy organizations and publications?<br>
c. Others?<br>
<br>
5. The DEA's <span class="st">National Prescription Drug Take-Back Initiative is a tremendously successful program. Will it continue until it is shown that voluntary programs are operating in all locations served by the Take-Back Initiative? If not, some
places will see a decrease in safe disposal options, possible leaving them without any. Many local law enforcement agencies are only able to accept controlled substances because of the
</span><span class="st"><span class="st">Take-Back Initiative. Without it, some have no room to securely store the collected medications. Many have no funds to properly dispose of what would be collected.<br>
<br>
Thanks again for working to increase the number of convenient, safe disposal options for unwanted household medications.<br>
</span><br>
<br>
<em></em></span></div>
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