Transcript Drug Take Back Program Protects Streams and Fish

Pharmaceuticals from
Households:
A Return Mechanism
Who is PH:ARM ?
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Snohomish County Solid Waste Management Division
Local Hazardous Waste Management Program in King County
Public Health / Seattle & King County
Northwest Product Stewardship Council
Washington Citizens for Resource Conservation
Pacific Northwest Pollution Prevention Resource Center
Washington State Department of Ecology
Washington State Department of Social and Health Services
Washington State Board of Pharmacy
• Group Health Cooperative
• Bartell Drugs
(Interest from many others, including pharmacies)
Basic Tenets for Success
• Safe and secure system (secure collection,
transport, destruction)
• Low-cost and financially sustainable
• Effective (high volume recovered)
– Easily accessible & user friendly
– Ongoing and widely available
• Government regulates and oversees the ongoing program but does not fund and manage
it. This should be left to the private sector.
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Meeting the Public’s Needs
• It should be as easy to properly dispose of medications as it is
to purchase them.
• Public comfort with solution is key to success.
• January 2006 SoundStats Survey showed that:
• 74% of respondents said that they would be willing or very willing to
properly dispose of unwanted medicines if a convenient location is
offered.
• 84% of respondents indicated a local pharmacy would be the most
convenient location to dispose of unused or expired medicines.
• 4% said they would be willing to use sheriff or police office, 5% said
special collection event, 2% said public hazardous waste facility.
Source: SoundStats Survey of King County Households (2006, WCRC)
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British Columbia Pharmaceutical Take Back
Over 850 Retail Pharmacies Voluntarily
Participate
MRW Facilities = 54 locations
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Pharmacy Locations = 1,300 locations
The Take it Back
Network
The Take it Back
Network
PH:ARM Pilot and Transition Program
• Began November 2006.
• Initially launched with 7 Group Health locations.
Expanded to 24.
• Initial launch at several Bartell Drug Pharmacies in
2008. Could expand to 54.
• Address adult care and others locations later in
2008.
• Pilot to run for 2 years then transition from
government and NGO grant funding.
• Work toward state-wide product stewardship
system.
• Work to resolve DEA and other reg issues.
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First Prototype: Metal Drop Box
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Group
Health Clinic:
PH:ARM Pilot:
Destruction
Renton
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Secure
Effective
Take-back
29 Collection Sites
> 10,000 pounds
Double Locked Container Can Only
be Opened with Two People
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Bucket Closed with Lock Lid
Under Double Witness
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Each Bucket Has Unique Tracking
Number and Security Tag
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Each Bucket Is Carefully Tracked
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Buckets are Returned to Pharmacy
Distribution Center, Recorded, and Placed
in Locked Cage
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When Enough Buckets Have Accumulated,
They Will Be Picked-up For Secure,
Witnessed Destruction
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Media Coverage
The Herald:
“Soon less trash may go into landfill”
2/6/2007
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
Northwest Cable News:
“Curing the Problem of Discarding Pills”
“Drug Take Back Program Protects Streams and Fish”
2/1/2007
3/2/2007
Green Daily:
“Get these Prescription Drugs to the Incinerator!”
1/28/2008
KOMO AM 1000:
USA Today:
“Flushing Old Medicines Not the Best Option”
“Close the Lid On Old Medicine”
3/2/2007
4/22/2007
The Washington Post:
King TV:
“New Tricks for old drugs”
“Drug Take Back Program
3/13/2007
KHQ TV:
Protects Streams and Fish”
“Flushing Old Medicines is No Longer
3/2/2007
the Most Sound Advice”
KUOW:
3/2/2007
Metroblogging Seattle:
“Group Health Creates Pilot
“Safely Dispose of Those Old Prescriptions”
Program for Disposing Old
1/22/2008
Medication”
3/5/2007
DiseaseProof.com:
The Spokesman review:
“Old Drugs, Where to Stick Them” “Pharmacy Disposal Sites established”
1/23/2008
4/22/2007
Growing and Irrepressible Demand
Compliance is High – 97%
Data
Collection
Group Health Decal
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Bartell and Group Health Fliers
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Bartell Drugs Flier and Poster
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For more information
www.medicinereturn.com
[email protected]
Sego Jackson – Snohomish County
[email protected]