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<p class="MsoNormal">Good Morning,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As many of you know, the New York Department of Environmental Conservation has
<a href="http://www.dec.ny.gov/press/112694.html">added 172 new locations</a> to its two-year pilot drug take-back program, bringing the total number of locations to 246. Collections are expected to begin this April, and Governor Cuomo’s Proposed Executive
Budget for 2018-19 includes an additional $1 million to support the program. Many congratulations to the NY DEC! We are thrilled that New York State is taking great strides to expand safe drug disposal.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In addition, as you’ll remember from our recent <a href="http://www.productstewardship.us/news/news.asp?id=385486">
press release</a>, the Product Stewardship Institute and New York Product Stewardship Council launched a
<a href="http://www.rochesterfirst.com/news/video/drug-take-back_20180215000716/974271729">
drug take-back pilot program</a> earlier this month with five hospitals in New York State (separately from DEC’s program). We have set up a new
<a href="http://www.productstewardship.us/?page=NYdrugtakeback">project webpage</a> with project resources and information. Collection rates through our hospital kiosks and mail-back envelopes are already much higher than expected, and the program is getting
great press:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:6.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:Symbol">·</span>
<em><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><a href="http://www.productstewardship.us/resource/resmgr/psi_in_the_news/2018.2.18_RGH_participates_i.pdf">RGH participates in drug take back pilot program</a>
</span></em>| WXXI News <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:Symbol">·</span>
<em><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><a href="http://www.productstewardship.us/resource/resmgr/psi_in_the_news/2018.2.15_Rochester_General_.pdf">Rochester General starts pilot drug take-back program</a>
</span></em>| Democrat & Chronicle <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:Symbol">·</span>
<em><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><a href="http://www.rochesterfirst.com/news/video/drug-take-back_20180215000716/974271729">Drug Take Back</a></span></em> | Rochester First | February 2018
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:Symbol">·</span>
<em><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><a href="http://www.productstewardship.us/resource/resmgr/psi_in_the_news/2018.2.14_RGH_taking_back_un.pdf">RGH taking back unused prescriptions in new program</a>
</span></em><em><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;font-style:normal">|</span></em><em><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">
</span></em>WHAM <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:Symbol">·</span>
<em><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><a href="http://www.productstewardship.us/resource/resmgr/psi_in_the_news/2018.2.8_Basset_Oconnor_to_a.pdf">Bassett, O'Connor to accept leftover Rx drugs</a>
</span></em><em><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;font-style:normal">|</span></em><em><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">
</span></em>The Daily Star | February 2018 <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:Symbol">·</span>
<em><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><a href="http://www.productstewardship.us/resource/resmgr/psi_in_the_news/2018.01.02_Ogdensburg_Gouver.pdf">Ogdensburg, Gouverneur hospitals collecting leftover drugs for disposal</a></span></em> | North Country
Now <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:Symbol">·</span>
<em><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><a href="http://www.productstewardship.us/resource/resmgr/psi_in_the_news/2018.2.7_Two_new_presciption.pdf">Two new prescription drug disposal sites come to St. Lawrence County</a></span></em> | Watertown Daily
Times <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We look forward to another 5+ months of safe drug disposal and public education!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Best,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Vivian <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#333333">______________________________<br>
Vivian Fuhrman, Ph.D.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#404040">Sr. Associate for Policy and Programs</span><span style="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><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#1F497D"><a href="http://www.productstewardship.us/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#333333">www.productstewardship.us</span></a><br>
<a href="mailto:vivian@productstewardship.us" target="_blank"><span style="color:#333333">vivian@productstewardship.us</span></a></span><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></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.</span></i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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