ph:arm (pharmaceuticals from households: a return mechanism) washington state’s medicine return

PH:ARM(Pharmaceuticals from Households:

A Return Mechanism) Washington State’s Medicine Return

Cheri GrassoKing County Hazardous Waste Management4th Annual Unused Drug Return Conference

Portland, MaineOctober 31, 2007

PH:ARM Team Local Governments

King County Hazardous Waste Management ProgramInteragency Resource for Achieving Cooperation (IRAC)

Public Health – Seattle & King County King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks

Snohomish County Solid Waste Management Division

State AgenciesState Department of Ecology

State Department of Social and Health ServicesState Board of Pharmacy

Non ProfitsNorthwest Product Stewardship Council

Washington Citizens for Resource Conservation Pacific NW Pollution Prevention Resource Center (PPRC)

Private SectorGroup Health Cooperative

Bartell Drugs

PH:ARM Goals• Keep drugs out of the environment

• Prevent drug diversion/ abuse • Prevent child poisonings

• As easy to dispose as to buy medicine• Meet regulatory requirements

• Create replicable model for others

British Columbia’s program: a model

• Since 1996• Serves 4 million people• No fee to user• 856 pharmacies participating• 44,000 lbs annually • Total cost $257,000 in 2006

Results of Survey

• 74% want to properly dispose of their unwanted medicines if convenient

• 80% would return their meds to a pharmacy

-SoundStats Survey of King County, 2006

PH:ARM Pilot Project• 25 Clinic pharmacy locations • 39 Retail pharmacy locations• 20 nursing homes• 2 years in length (ongoing)• Includes all pharmaceutical products*______________________*Initially we will not collect controlled substances, pending DEA

agreement

DEA Waiver Request

Memo of Understanding– Clinical Pharmacy– Retail Pharmacy

Strong Political SupportU.S. Senator Maria

CantwellU.S. Senator Patty

MurrayGovernor Christine

GregoireAttorney General Rob

McKennaSecretary of Health

Mary SeleckyEPA Region X

Administrator

1st Phase: Clinical Pharmacy

• HMO in Washington State

• 500,000 Customers; 25 pharmacies

• Started Oct 2006 with 7 locations

• 16 locations October 2007

Group Health Container

Results (thus far) of GHC Pilot

Eleven clinics in 10 months– Little advertising– Not open to general public– Collected over 3,000 lbs

• Estimate: 1.5 lbs a day per pharmacy site on average

Next Phase: Retail Pharmacy

• Bartell Drugs

• 1 central warehouse

• 39 locations

• more returns likely

Beyond the Pilot

Financing

• Funding:– $250,000 + grants – in-kind donations

• Washington - 66,000 lbs/year

Manufacturers in Canada Program

And many more….

Product Stewardship Is…

• Shared environmental responsibility• Producers, sellers or users

responsible for environ. impact

Product Stewardship in BC

• Pharm brand owners • Pharmacies• Consumers• Government

Product Stewardship in WorldLocations

European UnionCanadaJapan South Korea Australia

Products– Batteries

– Electronics

– Pharmaceuticals

– Paint

Legislation

• Producer responsibility bill• Manufacturer funded take backs

Additional Information• Information about the Washington pilot: www.medicinereturn.com

• Northwest Product Stewardship Council: www.productstewardship.net

• Information about the BC program: http://www.medicationsreturn.ca/

Contact Information

Cheri GrassoHealth and Environmental Investigator

Local Hazardous Waste Management Program in King County206-263-3089

Cheri.grasso@kingcounty.gov

Will PerryHealth and Environmental Investigator

Seattle-King County Public Health206-263-8477

William.perry@kingcounty.gov