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<div style="direction: ltr;font-family: Tahoma;color: #000000;font-size: 10pt;">Thanks James.
<br>
<br>
As I mentioned in my follow-up email, I now realize it is not my place to send this letter to the editor.
<br>
I will, for the second time, suggest to the DEA that they consider doing outreach to law enforcement about the new rule.<br>
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Sorry to have bothered all of you with this!<br>
<br>
<div style="font-family:Tahoma; font-size:13px">
<div style="font-family:Tahoma; font-size:13px"><font><span style="font-size:" lang="en-US">
<div>Ed Gottlieb<br>
Chair, Coalition for Safe Medication Disposal<br>
</div>
<div>Industrial Pretreatment Coordinator</div>
<div>Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Facility<br>
525 3<font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><sup>rd</sup></font> Street</div>
<div>Ithaca, NY 14850</div>
<div>(607) 273-8381</div>
<div>fax: (607) 273-8433</div>
</span></font></div>
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<div style="direction: ltr;" id="divRpF331872"><font color="#000000" face="Tahoma" size="2"><b>From:</b> James Steinmetz [JSteinmetz@cayuga-heights.ny.us]<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, February 26, 2015 1:32 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> Kris Bennett; James Landon; Thomas Boyce; Dan Ramer; Ed Gottlieb; John Barber; Josephine Flomerfelt; Mike Gray; Chuck Alridge; David Honan; Jeffery Montesano; Kathy, Zoner; MargaretRyan; Jackie; Tom Ferretti; Kristin Stevens; Tim Williams; Terri,
Stewart; pharmwaste@lists.dep.state.fl.us; Melinda Case; William Finnerty; Beau Saul; Mike McLellan; Joyce Billing; Beth harrington; Cindy Schulte; Derek Osborne; Jody Coombs; Ken Lansing; Marcia Lynch; Patricia Buechel; Susan Dunlop; Ann Rider<br>
<b>Subject:</b> RE: draft Letter to the Editor<br>
</font><br>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; color:#1F497D">Ed,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; color:#1F497D">First I would ask what area you are responsible for. If these infractions are occurring under someone else’s responsibility then they should be the person
making contact. Second, if these infractions have already been addressed once by you, or the appropriate chair, then I would contact the DEA since they are the enforcement agency.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; color:#1F497D">Just my $00.02,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; color:#1F497D">Jim</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; color:#1F497D"> </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Castellar","serif"; color:#1F497D">James M. Steinmetz</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Castellar","serif"; color:#1F497D"> Chief of Police</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Castellar","serif"; color:#1F497D"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; color:#1F497D">Cayuga Heights Police Department</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; color:#1F497D">836 Hanshaw Road</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; color:#1F497D">Ithaca, NY 14850</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; color:#1F497D">607-257-1011</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; color:#1F497D"> </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif""> Kris Bennett [mailto:kmbennett@tompkins-co.org]
<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, February 26, 2015 1:08 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> James Landon; James Steinmetz; Thomas Boyce; Dan Ramer; Ed Gottlieb; John Barber; Josephine Flomerfelt; Mike Gray; Chuck Alridge; David Honan; Jeffery Montesano; Zoner Kathy; MargaretRyan; Jackie; Tom Ferretti; Kristin Stevens; Tim Williams; Stewart
Terri; pharmwaste@lists.dep.state.fl.us; Melinda Case; William Finnerty; Beau Saul; Mike McLellan; Joyce Billing; Beth harrington; Cindy Schulte; Derek Osborne; Jody Coombs; Ken Lansing; Marcia Lynch; Patricia Buechel; Susan Dunlop; Ann Rider<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: draft Letter to the Editor</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">I saw both your emails Ed but will reply to this one since it contains your draft letter.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">I think it's a good idea to send the letter and to include the fact that people may not be aware of all the rules, especially
about siting the boxes securely inside. I suggest you scale back the length of the letter and focus on your #1 & # 2 points. If all the rules are available electronically somewhere, include a link to them to make it easier for people to access them. Including
the law and section number is less useful. </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">Kris</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif""><br>
<br>
>>> Ed Gottlieb <<a href="mailto:EGottlieb@cityofithaca.org" target="_blank">EGottlieb@cityofithaca.org</a>> 2/26/2015 10:00 AM >>></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"; color:black">Inspired by yet another news story of a law enforcement drop box being installed outside their station, in violation
of the new DEA rule, I wrote a letter to the editor (below.) After incorporating your good suggestions, I plan on sending it to two or three of the most widely read law enforcement publications.
<br>
<br>
I'd welcome your editorial suggestions and your advice on which publications to submit it to.
</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:12.0pt; margin-left:0in">
<span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"; color:black">Publications I found: Police Chief Magazine; Police; Law & Order; Sheriff; Law Officer; APB
<br>
Thanks!</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"; color:black">Ed
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:black">Pharmaceutical Drop Box Programs Need Review
</span></b><span style="color:black"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Providing the public with convenient ways to dispose of unwanted medications, especially controlled substances, is an important public service. Removing unwanted pharmaceuticals from homes decreases the likelihood
of illegal diversion, accidental overdose, and environmental contamination. </span>
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">After the DEA established the Take Back Initiative, what had been a small number of existing law enforcement collection events quickly multiplied. The ninth and final DEA event, on September 27,</span><span style="color:yellow">
</span><span style="color:red">4014 should be 2014,</span><span style="color:black"> included 4,076 agencies collecting 309 tons of unwanted medications at 5,495 sites in just four hours!
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">To increase disposal convenience, a steadily growing number of law enforcement agencies (and pharmacies, for non-controlled collection) have installed permanent drop boxes at their locations. Thanks to wide community
support, and some limited funding from state agencies and others, new drop boxes continue to be installed.
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Kudos to all of you that have taken the lead on this important issue!
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Are you aware that your drop box program may need to be modified to be compliant with recent changes to federal take back rules? This letter was inspired by reading multiple stories of new drop boxes being installed
that are in violation of a new federal rule. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Late in 2014, the DEA issued a rule regulating the take back of controlled substances. The big change is that pharmacies can now apply to take back controlled pharmaceuticals. Since the rule does not require
participation, and provides no funding, it may be quite some time before a pharmacy near you participates. Law enforcement programs remain the primary method for safe disposal.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">As an aside, I want to mention that once the new rule was in place, the DEA announced the end of the hugely successful Take Back Initiative. That decision has left many law enforcement agencies struggling to find
the funding needed to keep their one day and/or drop box collection programs going. It is going to be a tough transition time.
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Back to the point...the rule also specifies how law enforcement collects controlled substances. Please take the time to make sure your program is in compliance with the new rule. Here are a few details, specific
to law enforcement, which should be part of your review check list. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">1. Boxes must be <b>inside </b>law enforcement buildings. They are looking for active monitoring.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="color:black">§ 1317.35 Collection by law enforcement. (3) Collection receptacles located
<b>inside law enforcement's physical address</b>.</span><span style="color:black"> Also:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="color:black">§ 1317.75 Collection receptacles (d) (1) Inside a collector's registered location,
<b>inside law enforcement's physical location</b>, or at an authorized long-term care facility;</span><span style="color:black"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">2. They must be securely placed so that they cannot be removed, typically bolted to the floor and/or wall from inside the box. [§ 1317.75 (e) (1)]
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="color:black"> </span><span style="color:black"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt; text-indent:-9.0pt"><span style="color:black">3. Signage must indicate that Schedule II-V controlled and non-controlled substances are acceptable and that Schedule I controlled is not. [§ 1317.75 (e) (4)].
<i>(I had to add this wording to my programs signage using stickers.) </i><br>
<br>
<br>
</span><span style="color:black"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">4. Collected medications must be, “stored in a manner that prevents the diversion of controlled substances and is consistent with that agency's standard procedures…” [§ 1317.35 (c)]
<i>(We wrote an SOP specifying that inventory of the contents was not necessary. It isn't practical to routinely identify and count all the controlled substances received from a take back program. This also clears to way to be in compliance with state accreditation
rules.) </i></span><span style="color:black"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">5. The box must contain an opaque inner liner that, upon removal, must be labeled as specified in your departments SOP. If custody is to be transferred to a reverse distributor, a specific list of labeling requirements
must be followed. [§ 1317.35]</span><span style="color:black"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><br>
For those of you holding take back events, you can authorize non-law enforcement personnel to assist with required, and voluntary, activities including: receiving, weighing, separating controlled from non-controlled, removing unacceptable items (sharps, mercury),
inventorying, etc. [Executive Summary: J. Prohibition on Handling, Sorting, and Inventorying Inner Liner Contents and Mail-Back Package Contents; Response to Issues 2 & 3,]
<b> </b></span><span style="color:black"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">If you have any questions about the rule, you should contact your DEA field office. I’d also be happy to try and answer your questions. Please let me know if your DEA field office says something in conflict with
your reading of rule. Thanks! </span><span style="color:black"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Keep up the good work!</span><span style="color:black"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Ed Gottlieb<br>
Chair, Coalition for Safe Medication Disposal</span><span style="color:black"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Industrial Pretreatment Coordinator</span><span style="color:black"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Facility<br>
525 3<sup>rd</sup> Street</span><span style="color:black"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Ithaca, NY 14850</span><span style="color:black"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">(607) 273-8381</span><span style="color:black"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">fax: (607) 273-8433</span><span style="color:black"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"; color:black"> </span></p>
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