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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Dear List Serve:<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">Thank you for the comments. We did not want to add much more for you to read, but we felt the need to provide accurate and complete information about the new
Massachusetts law to address some of the questions that have been posed. </span>
<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"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">1.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Regarding “source reduction,” the bill limits first-time opioid prescriptions for adults, and all opioid prescriptions for minors,
to a 7-day supply. That provision will </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">change prescription practices and reduce leftover medication.
</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">2.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">This bill is 42 pages, but the stewardship section is 6 pages long. See the
</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><a href="https://malegislature.gov/Document/Bill/189/House/H4056.pdf">MA drug abuse prevent bill</a><span style="color:#1F497D">’s take-back provision of the bill (pg.
17-22): CHAPTER 94G, DRUG STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM.</span><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">3.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Is the stewardship component of this law a model for other states? No, the stewardship component of this law was not fully based
on PSI’s pharmaceutical EPR “model,” which is what we call our menu of legislative options for local, state, and federal agencies. In PSI’s model for pharmaceuticals, we have outlined all key elements of a good EPR pharmaceuticals bill and advise agencies
on how to craft a bill that best meets their needs. It is based on our 15 years of experience working on 20 product categories, including pharmaceuticals. While we were pleased that our model and research were incorporated into the comprehensive drug abuse
prevention bill developed by the MA Joint Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse, not all of our recommendations were accepted by the committee. The 3 items discussed in our email to the group below are most in need of attention moving forward, but
there are others we would recommend. While this bill can certainly be improved, we applaud the MA Legislature on addressing a major public health and environmental issue. It is a great step forward.
</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;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"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Listed below is a brief summary of the key elements of the bill:<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="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">1. What drugs will be collected (i.e., “covered drugs”)?
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:1.0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">o</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> Any brand name or generic opioid drug (Schedule II or Schedule III);<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:1.0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">o</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> Benzodiazepines; and<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:1.0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">o</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> Any other prescription drug in a pill formulation regardless of its schedule, brand</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">,</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">
or source of manufacture.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">2. What drugs will not be collecte</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">d?</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:1.0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">o</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> Veterinary drugs;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:1.0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">o</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> Cosmetic products;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:1.0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">o</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> hypodermic needles, lancets or other sharps; and<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:1.0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">o</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> drugs for substance use disorder treatment.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">3. What parties are responsible for collection</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">/safe management</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">?
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:1.0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">o</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> All pharmaceutical product manufacturers (i.e., an entity that manufactures a controlled
substance) selling or distributing any brand name or generic opioid drug (Schedule II or Schedule III) in the
</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">C</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">ommonwealth of Massachusetts.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:1.0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">o</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> Not an institutional pharmacy or a wholesaler.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">4. What agency is responsible for oversight?
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:1.0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">o</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> Massachusetts Department of Public
</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">H</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">ealth (DPH).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:1.0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">o</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> DPH will consult with the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council, the Interagency Council
on Substance Abuse</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">,</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> and other interested parties in developing the</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">
</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">requirements of a drug stewardship program.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">5. What collection systems can be used to achieve convenient access for the public?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:1.0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">o</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> Two or more of the following as determined by DPH:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:1.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">§ Mail-back program;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:1.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">§ Collection kiosks;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:1.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">§ Drop-off day event; or<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:1.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">§ In-home disposal methods (or other DEA-recommended methods).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">6. What options do the above mentioned responsible parties have to fulfill the law?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:1.0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">o</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> Fund and operate a drug stewardship program that allows patients to dispose of unused
and unwanted drugs;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:1.0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">o</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> Enter into an agreement with a stewardship organization created on behalf of a group of
manufacturers to implement a stewardship program; or<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:1.0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">o</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> Work with DPH to develop an alternative plan, which may be a financial contribution to
the Substance Abuse Services Fund.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">7. What else must a responsible party’s stewardship plan include?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:1.0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">o</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> How it will monitor the security and safety of their stewardship program;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:1.0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">o</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> How public outreach will be conducted; and<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:1.0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">o</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> Any other requirements established by the DPH.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">8. What is the program timeline?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:1.0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">o</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> This provision will take effect January 1, 2017 and will sunset on December 31, 2021 (5
years).<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">If you have further questions, please contact us at:</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">
<a href="mailto:scott@productstewardship.us">Scott Cassel</a><span style="color:#1F497D"> (617-236-4822) or
</span><span style="color:black"> </span><a href="mailto:vivian@productstewardship.us" target="_blank">Vivian Futran Fuhrman</a><span style="color:#1F497D"> (617-236-4771).
<o:p></o:p></span></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";color:#1F497D">Thanks,
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Scott and Vivian<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Consolas;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:navy">____________________________</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"><br>
<b>Scott Cassel<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">Chief<b>
</b>Executive Officer/Founder<br>
<i>Product Stewardship Institute, Inc.</i><br>
29 Stanhope Street, Boston, MA 02116<br>
617-236-4822 (ph); 617-236-4766 (fax) <br>
</span><a href="mailto:scott@productstewardship.us"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">scott@productstewardship.us</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black"><br>
</span><a href="http://www.productstewardship.us/"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">www.productstewardship.us</span></a><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:gray">Follow us on
</span></b><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Product-Stewardship-Institute/224328115936?ref=ts"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#4F81BD">Facebook</span></b></a><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:gray">
and </span></b><a href="http://twitter.com/productsteward"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#4F81BD">Twitter</span></b></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">
</span><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:gray">and</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">
</span><a href="http://productstewardshipinstitute.wordpress.com/"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#4F81BD">Blog</span></b></a><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#4F81BD"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#333333">______________________________<br>
Vivian Futran Fuhrman<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#404040">Associate for Policy and Programs</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#404040"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#333333">Product Stewardship Institute, Inc.<br>
</span></i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#333333">29 Stanhope St., 3rd Floor, Boston, MA 02116<br>
P: (617) 236-4771 F: (617) 236-4766<br>
</span><a href="http://www.productstewardship.us/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#333333">www.productstewardship.us</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><br>
</span><a href="mailto:vivian@productstewardship.us" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#333333">vivian@productstewardship.us</span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#333333">The Product Stewardship Institute, Inc. is an equal opportunity provider and employer.<o:p></o:p></span></i></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"><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 [</span><a href="mailto:pharmwaste-bounces@lists.dep.state.fl.us"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">mailto:pharmwaste-bounces@lists.dep.state.fl.us</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Suzy Whalen<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, March 15, 2016 10:42 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> </span><a href="mailto:pharmwaste@lists.dep.state.fl.us"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">pharmwaste@lists.dep.state.fl.us</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif""><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,
</span><a href="https://productstewardship.site-ym.com/news/279623/Governor-Signs-Massachusetts-Drug-Abuse-Prevention-Bill-First-State-to-Mandate-Drug-Take-Back.htm"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">signed yesterday</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">
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">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Symbol">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt">
</span><a href="https://malegislature.gov/Document/Bill/189/House/H4056.pdf"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">H. 4056</span></a><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">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Symbol">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt">
</span><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">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Symbol">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt">
</span><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
</span><a href="mailto:vivian@productstewardship.us"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Vivian Futran Fuhrman</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""> with questions at (617) 236-4771. You may
also reach out to </span><a href="mailto:scott@productstewardship.us"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Scott Cassel</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">, 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><a href="http://www.mass.gov/eopss/agencies/massrelay/relay-svcs/tty-relay.html"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#4F81BD">MassRelay</span></b></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#7F7F7F"><br>
</span><a href="http://www.productstewardship.us/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#7F7F7F">www.productstewardship.us</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#7F7F7F"><br>
</span><a href="mailto:suzy@productstewardship.us" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#7F7F7F">suzy@productstewardship.us</span></a><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><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Product-Stewardship-Institute/224328115936?ref=ts"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#4F81BD">Facebook</span></b></a><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:gray">,
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</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 [</span><a href="mailto:pharmwaste-bounces@lists.dep.state.fl.us"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">mailto:pharmwaste-bounces@lists.dep.state.fl.us</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Suzy Whalen<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, March 14, 2016 3:26 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> </span><a href="mailto:pharmwaste@lists.dep.state.fl.us"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">pharmwaste@lists.dep.state.fl.us</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif""><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
</span></i><a href="https://productstewardship.site-ym.com/news/279623/Governor-Signs-Massachusetts-Drug-Abuse-Prevention-Bill-First-State-to-Mandate-Drug-Take-Back.htm"><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">press release</span></i></a><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">
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
</span></i><a href="http://myoldmeds.com/safe-storage-disposal/in-home-disposal/"><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">four-step in-home disposal process</span></i></a><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">
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><a href="mailto:scott@productstewardship.us" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">scott@productstewardship.us</span></a><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 -
</span><a href="mailto:suzy@productstewardship.us" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">suzy@productstewardship.us</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black"> - (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
</span><a href="https://malegislature.gov/Document/Bill/189/House/H4056.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">a bill</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black"> 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
</span><a href="http://www.ncdoi.com/OSFM/safekids/Documents/OMCWhitePaper.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">$1 billion</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black"> 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
</span><a href="http://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/index.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">fastest growing drug problem</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black"> 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
</span><a href="http://www.productstewardship.us/?1019" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">contaminate waterways and the drinking water supply</span></a><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"><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 </span><a href="http://www.silentspring.org/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Silent Spring Institute</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">. "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 </span><a href="http://www.productstewardship.us/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Product Stewardship Institute</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">,
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
</span><a href="http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.productstewardship.us/resource/resmgr/Pharms_reports_factsheets/PSI_Pharms_Disposal_2014_WEB.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">safe medication disposal</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">,
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
</span></i><a href="http://www.productstewardship.us/?page=Pharmaceuticals" target="_blank"><i><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">website</span></i></a><i><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">, or contact
</span></i><a href="mailto:vivian@productstewardship.us" target="_blank"><i><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Vivian Futran Fuhrman</span></i></a><i><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black"> 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
</span><a href="http://www.productstewardship.us/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Product Stewardship Institute</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black"> (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
</span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/productstewardship" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Facebook</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black"> or follow us on
</span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/productsteward" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Twitter</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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