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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Hi Suzy, Vivian and Scott of PSI and, all,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Congratulations to PSI and MA for the shortened scrip and product stewardship of rx in MA! Awesome!!! <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>As you continue to follow up w/the MA DPH, the “royal we”, ask you to incorporate source reduction, or at least bring it to the table. No doubt pharma will want to continue to sell drugs, but possibly they will see the wisdom of source reduction when they bear at least some of the costs of the waste. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Very truly yours,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Catherine Zimmer, MS, BSMT<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Executive director, HEARRT Midwest<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Principal, Zimmer Environmental Improvement, LLC<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Pristina;color:#00B050'>Reducing and managing healthcare related waste and costs for fifteen years. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>St. Paul, MN <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Ph: 651.645.7509<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#00B050'><a href="mailto:zenllc@usfamily.net"><span style='color:#00B050'>zenllc@usfamily.net</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><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"'> Pharmwaste [mailto:pharmwaste-bounces@lists.dep.state.fl.us] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Suzy Whalen<br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, March 15, 2016 10:42 AM<br><b>To:</b> pharmwaste@lists.dep.state.fl.us<br><b>Subject:</b> [Pharmwaste] Massachusetts Drug Abuse Prevention Law: 7-day opioid prescription limit<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>Good morning,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>In addition to establishing a first-in-the-nation statewide drug take-back program, the MA drug abuse prevention law, <a href="https://productstewardship.site-ym.com/news/279623/Governor-Signs-Massachusetts-Drug-Abuse-Prevention-Bill-First-State-to-Mandate-Drug-Take-Back.htm">signed yesterday</a> by Governor Charlie Baker, also includes a 7-day opioid prescription limit. You can find more information on this provision below. </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.75in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><a href="https://malegislature.gov/Document/Bill/189/House/H4056.pdf">H. 4056</a></span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'> limits first-time opioid prescriptions for adults, and all opioid prescriptions for minors, to a 7-day supply.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.75in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>Exemptions include chronic pain and cancer treatment, and all exceptions must be documented in the patient’s medical record.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.75in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>The 7-day limit has the support of the Massachusetts Medical and Dental societies.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><u><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><br></span></u><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>The section number, summary, and full subsection language are below for context.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><u><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p><span style='text-decoration:none'> </span></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoListParagraph><u><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>SECTION 24 - 7-Day Prescription Limits for adults and children <o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>SUMMARY: Under this section, <b>the first time a patient obtains a prescription for an opioid, the patient will be limited to receiving a 7-day supply</b>. Minor patients are limited to 7-days for each prescription and a parent must be notified of the risks of addiction. This section provides an exception for acute conditions, chronic pain management, cancer and palliative care diagnoses with prescriber documentation of the need for medication. This shall not apply to MAT prescriptions.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>Section 19D. (a) When issuing a prescription for an opiate to an adult patient for<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>248 outpatient use for the first time, a practitioner shall not issue a prescription for more than a 7-day<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>249 supply. A practitioner shall not issue an opiate prescription to a minor for more than a 7-day<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>250 supply at any time and shall discuss with the parent or guardian of the minor the risks associated<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>251 with opiate use and the reasons why the prescription is necessary.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>252 (b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), if, in the professional medical judgment of a<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>253 practitioner, more than a 7-day supply of an opiate is required to treat the adult or minor patient’s<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>254 acute medical condition or is necessary for the treatment of chronic pain management, pain<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>255 associated with a cancer diagnoses or for palliative care, then the practitioner may issue a<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>256 prescription for the quantity needed to treat such acute medical condition, chronic pain, pain<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>257 associated with a cancer diagnosis or pain experienced while the patient is in palliative care. The<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>258 condition triggering the prescription of an opiate for more than a 7-day supply shall be<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>259 documented in the patient’s medical record and the practitioner shall indicate that a non-opiate<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>260 alternative was not appropriate to address the medical condition.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>Please feel free to reach out to PSI’s <a href="mailto:vivian@productstewardship.us">Vivian Futran Fuhrman</a> with questions at (617) 236-4771. You may also reach out to <a href="mailto:scott@productstewardship.us">Scott Cassel</a>, PSI’s chief executive officer, at (617) 236-4822. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>Thanks,<o:p></o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>Suzy <span style='color:#7F7F7F'> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#7F7F7F'>_____________________________________<br>Suzy Whalen</span></b><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#7F7F7F'>Outreach and Communications Coordinator<br><i>Product Stewardship Institute, Inc.<br></i>29 Stanhope St., 3rd Floor, Boston, MA 02116<br>P: (617) 236-8293 F: (617) 236-4766<br>TTY: please dial 711 or 800-439-2370;</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'> </span><b><u><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#4F81BD'><a href="http://www.mass.gov/eopss/agencies/massrelay/relay-svcs/tty-relay.html"><span style='color:#4F81BD'>MassRelay</span></a></span></u></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#7F7F7F'><br><a href="http://www.productstewardship.us/" target="_blank"><span style='color:#7F7F7F'>www.productstewardship.us</span></a><br><a href="mailto:suzy@productstewardship.us" target="_blank"><span style='color:#7F7F7F'>suzy@productstewardship.us</span></a></span><i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:gray'>Follow our </span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Product-Stewardship-Institute/224328115936?ref=ts"><b><span style='color:#4F81BD'>Facebook</span></b></a></span><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:gray'>, </span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><a href="http://twitter.com/productsteward"><b><span style='color:#4F81BD'>Twitter</span></b></a> </span><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:gray'>and </span></b><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#4F81BD'><a href="http://productstewardshipinstitute.wordpress.com/"><span style='color:#4F81BD'>Blog</span></a></span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><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"'> Pharmwaste [<a href="mailto:pharmwaste-bounces@lists.dep.state.fl.us">mailto:pharmwaste-bounces@lists.dep.state.fl.us</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Suzy Whalen<br><b>Sent:</b> Monday, March 14, 2016 3:26 PM<br><b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:pharmwaste@lists.dep.state.fl.us">pharmwaste@lists.dep.state.fl.us</a><br><b>Subject:</b> [Pharmwaste] PRESS RELEASE - Governor Signs Massachusetts Drug Abuse Prevention Bill, First State to Mandate Drug Take-Back Program<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div id=rootDiv><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>The following message comes from Scott Cassel, chief executive officer and founder of the Product Stewardship Institute. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>Dear Colleagues:<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>Today, Massachusetts became the first state in the country to require drug companies to pay for and manage the safe disposal of unwanted medicine (see <a href="https://productstewardship.site-ym.com/news/279623/Governor-Signs-Massachusetts-Drug-Abuse-Prevention-Bill-First-State-to-Mandate-Drug-Take-Back.htm">press release</a> below). The requirement is part of a comprehensive drug abuse prevention bill that was signed this morning by Governor Charlie Baker. PSI was fortunate to have the opportunity to work with smart and dedicated legislators and their staffs to ensure that the drug take-back provision prevailed in the final bill. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>With that said, there are several components to the legislation that will require articulation in the rules and regulations developed by the Department of Public Health (DPH) to ensure that the law is most effective at protecting public health and the environment. First, the law allows pharmaceutical companies to propose an “alternative plan” that could include a payment to the state in lieu of the industry managing their own safe disposal program. Second, the law allows companies to meet only two of four criteria for a program, including mail back, one-day events, in-home disposal, and kiosks. And finally, there is a sunset clause after five years. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>Over the coming months, we will work to ensure that the MA DPH rules and regulations do not allow industry to offload their responsibility onto the state through inadequate payments or by requiring additional state workers to manage a program that should be implemented by the industry itself. We will also work to counter the industry’s promotion of its <a href="http://myoldmeds.com/safe-storage-disposal/in-home-disposal/">four-step in-home disposal process</a> of putting drugs in a plastic bag and mixing with water and then kitty litter, sawdust, or coffee grinds before disposing in the garbage. State and local government agencies around the country have rejected this approach for the past 15 years, as has the Office of National Drug Control Policy and the Drug Enforcement Administration, which spent considerable resources to change the federal Controlled Substances Act and subsequent regulations to allow collections at pharmacies and other convenient locations. They would not have spent the time or money to make sure that drugs could be conveniently collected if they thought it was safe or even feasible to mix drugs with kitty litter and put them in the garbage. Finally, no program should be sunset without a thorough evaluation. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>We have a lot of work still ahead. However, at this point, I want to pause and acknowledge Vivian Futran Fuhrman and Waneta Trabert of the PSI staff for their unwavering commitment to the issue of safe pharmaceuticals disposal and to ensuring the health and safety of Massachusetts citizens. They were both tireless in the technical assistance they provided to legislative staff, and have been a key reason for this bill’s success. In addition, Suzy Whalen’s skill at communicating the nuances of the information has significantly contributed to PSI’s ability to spread the message. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>This effort has also been a team effort by the wider product stewardship community, which started a decade ago when PSI identified waste pharmaceuticals as a public health and safety issue. After stakeholder meetings we held in California and Washington D.C., we developed producer responsibility models in the Great Lakes region that were further developed and implemented expertly by Alameda County, which prevailed against legal challenges by the industry all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Teleosis Institute, California Product Stewardship Council, Covanta, and others have been diehard advocates of safe ways to manage the disposal of waste pharmaceuticals. As King County, Washington, and San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and Marin counties in California know, this is a national team effort that cannot be stopped because the evidence of drug abuse deaths are as vivid as the presence of pharmaceutical compounds in our nation’s waterways. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>The Massachusetts drug take-back section of the comprehensive law can certainly be improved upon. However, it is a major milestone in the history of producer responsibility, and we are honored to play a role in its development. We look forward to working with you to implement similar laws in other states and eventually at the federal level. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>Scott Cassel and the PSI team<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><i><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>###<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:3.75pt'><b><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</span></b><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:3.75pt'><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>March 14, 2016<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:3.75pt'><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:3.75pt'><b><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>Contact:</span></b><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:3.75pt'><span lang=FR style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>Scott Cassel, PSI - </span><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><a href="mailto:scott@productstewardship.us" target="_blank">scott@productstewardship.us</a></span><span lang=FR style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'> - (617) 236-4822</span><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:3.75pt'><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>Suzy Whalen, PSI - <a href="mailto:suzy@productstewardship.us" target="_blank">suzy@productstewardship.us</a> - (617) 236-8293<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:3.75pt'><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-left:3.75pt;text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>Governor Signs Massachusetts Drug Abuse Prevention Bill, <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-left:3.75pt;text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>First State to Mandate Drug Take-Back Program <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-left:3.75pt;text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-left:3.75pt;text-align:center'><i><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>Requires manufacturers to finance and manage safe disposal program<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-left:3.75pt;text-align:center'><i><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>for leftover medications <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-left:3.75pt;text-align:center'><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:3.75pt'><b><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>Massachusetts </span></b><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>- Today, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker signed into law <a href="https://malegislature.gov/Document/Bill/189/House/H4056.pdf" target="_blank">a bill</a> that made Massachusetts the first state in the nation to require drug companies to safely dispose of unwanted medications as part of a comprehensive drug abuse prevention strategy.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:3.75pt'><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:3.75pt'><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>"An important goal of this comprehensive bill was to get every part of our health care system involved in reducing the misuse of opiate pills," said Senator John F. Keenan (D - Quincy), who first introduced the drug stewardship legislation, and is vice chair of a special Senate committee formed to address the state's opioid problem. "Today, for the first time, we are saying that pharmaceutical manufacturers cannot just profit from this epidemic, but must play an active role in ending it. I am very proud that Massachusetts has taken this step."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:3.75pt'><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:3.75pt'><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>Over <a href="http://www.ncdoi.com/OSFM/safekids/Documents/OMCWhitePaper.pdf" target="_blank">$1 billion</a> in leftover drugs are thrown in the trash, flushed, or consigned to medicine cabinets each year. Drugs left in the home can get into the hands of children and potential addicts. Prescription drug abuse is the <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/index.html" target="_blank">fastest growing drug problem</a> in the U.S. Last year, Massachusetts had 1,256 accidental drug-related deaths. When flushed or put in the trash, over-the-counter medications and prescription drugs can potentially <a href="http://www.productstewardship.us/?1019" target="_blank">contaminate waterways and the drinking water supply</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:3.75pt'><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:3.75pt'><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>"Our research has shown that pharmaceuticals from household wastewater end up in our waterways and ultimately our drinking water supplies," said Laurel Schaider, research scientist at the <a href="http://www.silentspring.org/" target="_blank">Silent Spring Institute</a>. "Preventing unwanted and expired medications from being thrown out or flushed down the drain will help keep pharmaceuticals out of the environment, and drug take-back programs can accomplish this goal."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:3.75pt'><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:3.75pt'><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>"We applaud Massachusetts for recognizing that drug companies are responsible for safely managing leftover medicine and that this is a key element in reducing drug abuse," said Scott Cassel, chief executive officer of the <a href="http://www.productstewardship.us/" target="_blank">Product Stewardship Institute</a>, which has promoted drug take back nationwide for the past decade. "This law will save money for Massachusetts governments, which traditionally bear the burden of paying for proper disposal. It will also cover the cost of <a href="http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.productstewardship.us/resource/resmgr/Pharms_reports_factsheets/PSI_Pharms_Disposal_2014_WEB.pdf" target="_blank">safe medication disposal</a>, including at local pharmacies that are pillars of our communities."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:3.75pt'><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:3.75pt'><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>Since 2012, seven counties on the West Coast - six in California (Alameda, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and Marin) and one in Washington (King) - passed laws that shift the cost burden for collecting and properly managing prescription drugs to drug makers. These laws will serve to guide the Massachusetts Department of Public Health as they develop rules and regulations to implement the new state law so that it is effective.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:3.75pt'><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:3.75pt'><i><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>Learn more about the Product Stewardship Institute's work on pharmaceuticals on the <a href="http://www.productstewardship.us/?page=Pharmaceuticals" target="_blank">website</a>, or contact <a href="mailto:vivian@productstewardship.us" target="_blank">Vivian Futran Fuhrman</a> at (617) 236-4771. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:3.75pt'><i><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-left:3.75pt;text-align:center'><i><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>###<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:3.75pt'><i><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>About the Product Stewardship Institute: </span></b><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>The <a href="http://www.productstewardship.us/" target="_blank">Product Stewardship Institute</a> (PSI) is a national, membership-based nonprofit committed to reducing the health, safety, and environmental impacts of consumer products across their life cycle with a strong focus on sustainable end-of-life management. Headquartered in Boston, Mass., PSI takes a unique product stewardship approach to solving waste management problems by encouraging product design changes and mediating stakeholder dialogues. With 47 state environmental agency members, along with hundreds of local government members from coast-to-coast, and 110 corporate, business, academic, non-U.S. government, and organizational partners, we work to design, implement, evaluate, strengthen, and promote both legislative and voluntary product stewardship initiatives across North America. Like us on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/productstewardship" target="_blank">Facebook</a> or follow us on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/productsteward" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div></body></html>