Home Contra Costa County County Hosts Safe Medicine Forum, Supervisor Piepho Seeks Solutions

County Hosts Safe Medicine Forum, Supervisor Piepho Seeks Solutions

by ECT

Contra Costa County held a Safe Medicine Disposal Forum  July 18 to discuss the need for not only safe disposal, but convenient locations for unwanted medications.  The forum was held a JFK University in Pleasant Hill.

Supervisor Mary Piepho spoke during the event highlighting how public safety is a big part of her policy initiatives as Supervisor.

“With Pubic Safety as part of my policy initiatives as County Supervisor, highlighting a growing safety problem within our community, prescription drug abuse, is a priority of mine,” said Piepho. “It is critical that we reach out to our communities so we can all take part to prevent prescription and over-the-counter drugs from falling into the wrong hands, or from polluting our water supplies.”

She stated that according to the Office of the National Drug Control Policy, prescription drug abuse is our Nation’s fastest-growing drug problem.

She also shared the following facts:

  • In 2009, drug overdoses in the United States caused over 36,000 deaths, over 20,000 of which were from prescription drug overdoses.
  • Overdose deaths involving prescription drugs have increased and now exceed deaths involving all illegal drugs combined.
  • In 2009, 1.2 million emergency department visits were related to misuse or abuse of pharmaceuticals, an increase of 98.4% since 2004.
  • As many as 70% of people who abuse prescription drugs get them from a relative or friend instead of a doctor.

She further explained that  some individuals who misuse prescription drugs, particularly teens, believe these substances are safer than illicit drugs because they are prescribed by a healthcare professional and dispensed by a pharmacist.

“This is simply not true,” said Piepho. “Addressing the prescription drug abuse epidemic is not only a top priority for public health, but will also help build stronger communities and allow those with substance abuse disorders to lead healthier, more productive lives.

She noted a letter recently written by the Board of Supervisors to the Senate Committee on Environmental Quality in support of SB 727 – Medication Take-Back Program.   The bill is a producer responsibility bill that will require producers of medications to design, fund and oversee operations of the take-back program.

According to Piepho, SB 727 follows CalRecycle’s design for a producer run collection system. The goal of the bill is to remove unused medications from residential environments by providing safe and convenient collection opportunities statewide thereby reducing unsafe access to medications by those who abuse them and to avoid any flushing of medications into the water system.

“Pharmaceuticals in surface and groundwater are widespread and also taking a serious toll,” sid Piepho. “In response to the serious and growing hazards created by pharmaceutical waste, local communities have struggled to establish and maintain viable drug collection options for residents. This means that consumers have ended up paying for the medications they require, which also footing the bill for local collection programs, medical treatment, and environmental cleanup.”

She further explained how SB 727 provides a common sense step toward addressing these various problems by holding the pharmaceutical industry, which is profiting from drug sales in California, responsible for ensuring that their products are disposed of properly at the end of their useful lives.

“Drug waste is dangerous and needs to be addressed now. It is time for California to establish a pharmaceutical extended producer responsibility program to protect our water resources and our communities from increased abuse of unused medications,” said Piepho. I encourage all community members to pledge: “Spread the Word…One Pill Can Kill.”

Other speakers included:

  • Melody LaBella, Central Contra Costa Sanitary District
  • April Rovero, National Coalition Against Prescription Drug Abuse
  • Lois Courchaine, Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority
  • Heidi Sanborn, California Product Stewardship Council
  • Mike Rogge, California Manufacturers  & Technology Association (Invited)
  • Saifi Raniwala, City Center Pharmacy, Brentwood
  • Michael Kent, Contra Costa County Hazardous Materials Commission

The event was sponsored by the Contra Costa County Pharmaceutical Disposal Collaborative—a partnership of Central Contra Costa Sanitary District, Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority, Contra Costa County, Contra Costa County Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Coalition, Delta Diablo Sanitation District, National Coalition Against Prescription Drug Abuse and West Contra Costa Integrated Waste Management Authority

The event will air on CCTV in the near future.

Photos provided by Supervisor Piepho’s office.

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