Leading Government and Advocacy Stakeholders Engage in Public Health Dialogue on Improving Disposal of Unused Medications
December 22nd, 2008
2008 DEC 22 -- The Product Stewardship Institute (PSI) convened its second National Pharmaceuticals Dialogue Meeting earlier this week in Washington, DC to discuss ways to improve the disposal of unused medications to combat increasing rates of prescription drug abuse, accidental poisonings, and environmental contamination. The meeting, sponsored by King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE:KG), brought together more than 100 participants, including U.S. regulators from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Department of Transportation (DOT), and Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), as well as state and local officials, industry groups, and advocacy organizations to share their expertise and insights on current legal and regulatory challenges facing drug disposal.
"As prescription drug abusers often obtain medications easily from the home of friends or family members, it is extremely important to address the safe and proper disposal of unused medication. King is committed to working together with leading stakeholders to come to a consensus on safe and effective drug disposal that will help to reduce the risk of drug abuse and environmental pollution in our communities," said Brian A. Markison, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of King Pharmaceuticals. "We are pleased to be partnering with PSI in this important endeavor to improve public health."
In conjunction with this week's meeting, PSI and King launched the Drug Take-Back Network that establishes a central resource for information on drug take-back impediments and existing programs to collect and dispose of unused medications in communities around the country. By promoting shared learning, the Drug Take-Back Network will advance strategies already underway to reduce drug abuse and accidental poisonings, and to improve water quality by offering consumers a safe option for disposing of their unused drugs.
"This week's meeting was an important opportunity to discuss the challenges inhibiting drug disposal and to brainstorm how to change the current legal and regulatory landscape to safely and cost-effectively implement take-back programs on a national scale," added Scott Cassel, Executive Director and Founder of PSI. "The launch of the Drug Take-Back Network is another vital component of PSI's national initiative to reduce the health and environmental impact of unused medications."
In addition to its leadership role with the Pharmaceuticals Dialogue Meeting, King recently commissioned Avalere Health, an advisory company focused on healthcare business strategy and public policy, to develop a white paper focused on the disposal of unused prescription drugs including opioids. The white paper, which was distributed to meeting participants, examines the current challenges facing drug disposal and the factors necessary to implement a successful disposal program that will reduce the incidence of drug abuse and diversion. The paper and other educational resources are available at www.takebacknetwork.com, the Web site for the newly established Drug Take-Back Network.
Proper disposal of unused prescription drugs has become an important public health concern as rates of prescription drug abuse and diversion have increased. According to a recent study by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA), teens have easy access to prescription medications - 19% feel prescription drugs are easier to obtain than beer, citing common sources as friends, classmates, parents or their own home's medicine cabinet.(1) There is a lack of agreement on a recommended disposal method for unused pharmaceuticals. Federal guidelines suggest either take back or home garbage disposal for most medications, and flushing for a small number of controlled substances. By contrast, state agencies do not recommend flushing of any medications, and an increasing number of agencies promote the return of used medications at pharmacies or through a mail-back program. Meeting participants focused on reaching consensus about the implementation of sustainable programs to collect unused medications and efforts to increase public awareness about the issue.
Keywords: Drug Abuse, Addiction Medicine, FDA, King Pharmaceuticals Inc., Pharmaceutical Business, Pharmaceutical Company, Public Health, Regulatory Actions, Therapy, Treatment, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, King Pharmaceuticals Inc.; Product Stewardship Institute.
This article was prepared by Biotech Business Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2008, Biotech Business Week via NewsRx.com.
