Building an Oregon Drug TakeBack Program

1
Building an Oregon DrugTake-Back Program

• Ideas and Concepts

2
Why?

• Reduce avoidable poisonings
• Children adults
• Prevent drug abuse addiction
• Mostly teens young adults
• Protect water quality
• Septic Systems
• Wastewater Treatment Plants
• Landfills

3
What Happens Downstream?

• In 2002, USGS found pharmaceuticals and other
  chemicals in very low concentrations in most
  waterways that receive municipal wastewater.
• One of the 139 sampling stations was on the
  Tualatin River, at Boones Ferry Bridge .
• That sample contained 2 steroids, 2 antibiotics,
  2 stimulants, 2 detergents, and 2 plasticizers.
• Source http//toxics.usgs.gov.

4
Sources of drugs

• Homes
• Adult Care Facilities (nursing homes, skilled
  nursing, assisted living, etc.)
• Hospitals
• Hospice
• Schools
• Vet clinics

5
Regulatory Challenges

• DEA Regulations
• Controlled drugs can only be returned to law
  enforcement officer
• OxyContin
• Morphine
• Ritalin
• More

6
Developing an Oregon Drug Take-Back Program
Funders

• Association of Clean Water Agencies
• Oregon Water Utility Council
• Oregon Dept. of Environmental Quality
• Others

7
Developing an OregonDrug Take-Back Program
Stakeholders

• Oregon Board of Pharmacy
• Oregon DEQ
• Clean Water Services and other Association of
  Clean Water Agency members
• Tualatin Valley Water District and other Oregon
  Water Utility Council members
• Oregon State Pharmacists Association
• Oregon Refuse and Recycling Association
• PhRMA
• Lane County P2 Team
• Environmental public interest groups
• U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration
• Others

8
Goals for Oregon Program

• Legal under Federal Drug Enforcement
  Administration regulations
• Controlled substances
• Chain of custody and tracking requirements
• Convenient and understandable for participants
• Affordable
• Accessible to Households Statewide

9
Developing an OregonDrug Take Back Program

• Stakeholder Group
• Met since October 2006
• Wrote detailed research report and executive
  summary (see orwaca.org)
• Produced 2-page recommendations for Oregon program

10
Options for an Oregon Program

• Mechanisms
• Drop Boxes
• Mail-Back Envelopes
• Program Administrators
• Law Enforcement
• Product Stewardship (pharmaceutical industry)
• Funding
• Solid waste disposal fees
• Pharmaceutical fees
• Tax on drinking water utilities
• State General Fund
• Industry funded

11
Recommendation Product Stewardship Model

• Led and funded by drug manufacturers, including
  generic, name brand, prescription and
  over-the-counter
• Develop the most efficient program possible
• Likely a mail-back design
• Might need 2009 Oregon legislation to ensure
  participation of the pharmaceutical industry

12
Product Stewardship Model

• Pros
• Industry-organized and led
• Efficient
• Little-to-no government involvement
• Could be model for other parts of the nation

• Cons
• Depends on industry to voluntarily organize and
  fund program

13
What Can You Do?

• Get your organization to endorse the Oregon Drug
  Take-Back Stakeholder recommendations
• Send your endorsement letter c/o ACWA

14
For Additional Information

• Drug Take Back Stakeholders Report
• www.oracwa.org
• Contact a member of the Stakeholder Group
• Contact ACWA
• Janet Gillaspie
• 537 SE Ash Suite 12
• Portland, OR 97214
• 503-236-6722
• Gillaspie_at_oracwa.org

15
Next Steps?

• Stakeholder Group Gathering in October
• Gauge support for recommendations
• Gauge interest in leading effort
• Consider additional actions, possibly
• Drafting legislation for 2009 Oregon Session
• Statewide pilot-project in concert with industry
• Other ideas

16
Questions?