Transcript Is there a problem? - Product Stewardship Institute

Pharmacists’ Perspective on
Unwanted/Waste
Pharmaceuticals
PSI: Pharmaceuticals National Dialogue
Sacramento, CA
June 19, 2008
Shirley Reitz, Pharm.D., BCPS
Associate Director, Pharmacy Clinical Services
Group Health Cooperative
Seattle, WA
Pharmacists’ Perspective
Is there a problem?
If there is an issue,
what are the
primary challenges
for Pharmacy in
helping to solve
this issue?
What is needed to
move this issue
forward?
Is there a problem?
Patient Demand
2006
WCRC survey of 400 King County households revealed

39% have 10 or more medicine containers in their homes
 Only 33% report that they are currently using or plan to use these meds
 74% stated they would be willing to dispose of the meds in a convenient location
“We
are cleaning out my Grandfather’s house and I have a suitcase full of
drugs that we need to get rid of. Can we bring them into your disposal site?”
“Our
neighborhood association (over 400 homes) would like to provide some
education to the families in our neighborhood about drugs in their homes – can
we tell them to bring their meds to you for disposal?”
“Please
dispose of this medication. Enclosed is a donation….”
Is there a problem?
Collected Drugs, Percent by Weight
Patient Demand



Over 10,000 lbs of
unwanted medications
collected and
incinerated
Implemented in all 25
Group Health
pharmacy locations
Regional pharmacy
chain implementing in
10 additional pilot sites
Is there a problem?
Patient Safety - “Teens and Prescription Drugs”
2007 White House ONDCP report:
•New abusers of prescription drugs have
caught up with new users of marijuana;
•Pain relievers, such as OxyContin and
Vicodin, are the most commonly abused
prescription drugs by teens;
•One third of all new abusers of prescription
drugs in 2005 were 12-17-year olds;
•Prescription drugs are the drug of choice
among 12- and 13-year olds;
The majority of teens (57%), who use these products, say they get
prescription drugs for free from a relative or friend (47%), or take them from
a relative or friend (10%), without asking; and
Adolescents
are more likely than young adults to become dependent on
prescription medication.
Is there a problem?
What are the challenges for Pharmacy?
Regulatory
Controlled
Substance Act
Drug
Enforcement Agency
State
Boards of Pharmacy
Cost
Need
affordable solutions
Pharmacies/Patients
should not be
required to fund solutions
Lack of Educational Outreach
Education
of patients and healthcare
professionals
Lack of guidance at the national level
National
pharmacy associations
What do we need to move forward?
Models that demonstrate a safe, secure,
convenient, affordable disposal system
Pilot
program in 25 Group Health Pharmacy
locations in Washington state
Design
and develop secure disposal bin
Tracking
system from consumer deposit to
incineration
Regulatory responsiveness
Allow
secure collection of controlled
substances from public in convenient
locations (pharmacies)
Reduce
administrative burden
Cost
Ensure
that burden of disposal cost does not
fall to patients or to the pharmacies
What do we need to move forward?
Educating consumers to take action



Media campaign
Training for care providers to
educate patients
Web site development (such as
www.medicinereturn.com)
What do we need to move forward?
National Dialogue and Development of Partnerships
Health Care Providers

Group Health
State and local government

King County Local Hazardous
Waste Management Program

Snohomish County Solid Waste
Management Division

Public Health – Seattle and King
County

WA Department of Ecology
Businesses

Bartell Drug Company
Non-profit agencies

Interagency Resource for
Achieving Cooperation
(IRAC)
 Northwest Product
Stewardship Council
Advisors

WA State Board of Pharmacy

WA Department of Social and
Health Services

WA Citizens for Resource
Conservation
 Pacific NW Pollution
Prevention Resource Center
Pharmaceutical Manufacturers
Pharmacists’ Perspective
Contact Information
Shirley Reitz, Pharm.D., BCPS
Associate Director, Pharmacy Clinical Services
Group Health Cooperative
Seattle, WA 98168
206-901-4334
[email protected]