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<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri">Dear Mr. Caruso,
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<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><font face="Calibri"> </font></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri">Kudos to Walgreens for being the first chain pharmacy in the U.S. to actively promote take-back for the safe disposal of unwanted household medications!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>Walgreens instillation of kiosks in your 24 hour pharmacy locations was a significant commitment that made safe disposal far more convenient for members of those communities.<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><font face="Calibri"> </font></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri">Walgreens new commitment (press release below) to provide a year-round, safe drug disposal option in all its pharmacies, at no cost to individuals, is a great service to our country!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>Thank you so much!<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><font face="Calibri"> </font></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri">Can you please explain Walgreens choice of a disposal option under this new initiative?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>Why home disposal pouches rather than installing more kiosks or providing mail-back envelopes?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>You may recall that I emailed you about this on January 3, 2018.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span><o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><font face="Calibri"> </font></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri">My research shows that kiosks have the lowest disposal cost per pound of unwanted medications ($2-5/lb or about $0.01/prescription), mail-back envelopes cost significantly more than that,
and home disposal pouches have, by far, the highest per pound disposal cost ($50-100/lb)*.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span><o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><font face="Calibri"> </font></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri">Along with the very high per pound disposal cost of home disposal products, there are other concerns with the use of these technologies.**<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>When explaining Walgreens choice of home disposal pouches, can you please include a response to these concerns?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>Thank you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><font face="Calibri"> </font></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri">Your press release notes, "Both programs make the disposal of medications — including opioids and other controlled substances — easier and more convenient while helping to reduce the misuse
of medications and the rise in overdose deaths."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>In future, you may want to consider adding a third benefit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>Take-back programs also help reduce the rate of accidental poisonings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span><o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><font face="Calibri"> </font></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri">Walgreens, thanks again for your leadership in promoting safe disposal of unwanted household medications!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>Your consideration of my questions is very appreciated. Please let me know if you have any questions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span><o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><font face="Calibri"> </font></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><font face="Calibri"> </font></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri">Ed Gottlieb
<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri">Chair, Tompkins County Coalition for Safe Medication Disposal<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri">Industrial Pretreatment Coordinator<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri">Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Facility<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri">525 3rd Street<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri">Ithaca, NY<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>14850<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri">(607) 273-8381<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><font face="Calibri"> </font></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri">* Calculation of the estimated per pound cost for two major brands of home disposal pouches:<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri">Rx Destroyer uses Advil (200 mg IBU) pills to determine capacity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>A 200 mg IBU pill weighs 0.315 gm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>
<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri">This will be used as the average weight for a "pill" in this calculation.
<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><font face="Calibri"> </font></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri">Deterra retail price (multiple vendors) for a disposal pouch that holds 45 pills = $6.50<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri">[Manufacturer’s list price reported as $5.99.]<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri">45 x 0.315 gm = 14.175 gm = 0.0313 pounds @ $6.50 = $207.67/pound (retail)<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri">Assuming a wholesale price of $3.33 (the PA AG paid almost $1 mil for 300,000 pouches), the disposal cost is $106.49/pound<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><font face="Calibri"> </font></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri">Rx Destroyer, wholesale price of 4 oz size<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>$100/24 bottles + shipping.<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri">If shipping is $8, 108/24 = $4.50/bottle; A 4 oz bottle holds 50 Advil<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri">50 x 0.315 gm = 15.75 gm = 0.0347 pounds @ $4.50 = $129.68/pound<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><font face="Calibri"> </font></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri">Estimated wholesale cost, to treat a pound of medication, is $106 & $130, for Deterra & Rx Destroyer, respectively.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>Assuming a large bulk order from Walgreens gets a much larger discount, I imagine the cost is still above $50/pound, still the most expensive disposal technology.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span><o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><font face="Calibri"> </font></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri">**Concerns with home disposal technologies:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.productstewardship.us/resource/resmgr/GoToGuide/In-Home_Drug_Disposal_Risks_.pdf<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span><o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><font face="Calibri"> </font></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri">PRESS RELEASE:<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><font face="Calibri"> </font></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri">https://news.walgreens.com/press-releases/general-news/walgreens-to-provide-free-safe-medication-disposal-option-in-all-drugstores-in-2019.htm<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><font face="Calibri">Walgreens to Provide Free Safe Medication Disposal Option in All Drugstores in 2019<o:p></o:p></font></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri">24 October 2018<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri">Company Has Collected More than 400 Tons of Unwanted Medications to Date<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri">DEERFIELD, Ill., October 24, 2018 - Walgreens today announced it is expanding its effort to combat the opioid epidemic as it encourages Americans to clean out their medicine cabinets in advance
of Drug Enforcement Administration sponsored National Prescription Take Back Day on Saturday October 27. To complement its existing safe medication disposal kiosk program, Walgreens has committed to providing a year-round safe drug disposal option in all its
pharmacies at no cost to individuals. Beginning in spring 2019, all Walgreens pharmacies that do not offer a safe medication disposal kiosk will stock a take home safe medication disposal kit in the pharmacy that will be available at no cost upon patient request.<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri">“We are excited to build upon our efforts to make safe medication disposal easier and more accessible to more Americans,” said Rick Gates, Walgreens senior vice president of pharmacy and
healthcare. “Both of these programs offer the best way to ensure medications are not accidentally or intentionally misused as we continue our efforts to combat the opioid epidemic.”<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri">Walgreens continues to work with AmerisourceBergen, Pfizer and Prime Therapeutics to expand its safe medication disposal kiosk program to 1,500 drugstores across the country. Since the program
began, more than 400 tons of medications, which is more than the weight of a 777 jet, has been collected and safely disposed of.<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri">Both programs make the disposal of medications — including opioids and other controlled substances — easier and more convenient while helping to reduce the misuse of medications and the rise
in overdose deaths.<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri">Beginning next month, Walgreens will install 14 safe medication disposal kiosks throughout Missouri after working to update rules that will allow for the program’s implementation in the state.
When installation is complete, safe medication disposal kiosks will be available in select Walgreens across 46 states and Washington D.C.<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri">As part of its continuing effort to combat drug abuse, Walgreens will again participate in the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day held on October 27 where select Walgreens stores throughout
the country will serve as a collection point for law enforcement to collect unwanted, unused or expired medications for safe disposal.<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri">Walgreens continues to increase access to naloxone, a lifesaving medication that if administered in time can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. The medication is now available without
a physician’s prescription in 48 states including the recent addition of all of its Delaware pharmacies.<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri">To learn more of Walgreens efforts visit Walgreens.com/combatdrugabuse.<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri">About Walgreens<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri">Walgreens (walgreens.com), one of the nation's largest drugstore chains, is included in the Retail Pharmacy USA Division of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (NASDAQ: WBA), the first global
pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise. Approximately 8 million customers interact with Walgreens in stores and online each day, using the most convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health
and wellness services and advice. As of August 31, 2018, Walgreens operates 9,560 drugstores with a presence in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, along with its omnichannel business, Walgreens.com. Approximately
400 Walgreens stores offer Healthcare Clinic or other provider retail clinic services.<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>View source version on businesswire.com https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181024005781/en/<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri">Contact(s)<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri">Walgreens<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri">Phil Caruso<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri">847-315-2962<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri">philip.caruso@walgreens.com<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri">http://news.walgreens.com<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri">@WalgreensNews<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri">facebook.com/Walgreens</font><o:p></o:p></p>
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