Smart Disposal™
The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) and
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service teamed up for an initiative in
March of 2007 to protect the environment from improperly disposed of
medications. The Smart Disposal™ campaign
is designed to raise public awareness of this issue and provide the
American medication consumers alternative medication disposal routes
instead of ‘flushing’ unused mediation.
APhA Press Release
US Fish and Wildlife Service
Iowa Prescription Drug Donation
Repository Program
In 2005 the Iowa
State Legislature passed House File 724 which allowed for the
implementation of a Prescription Drug Donation Repository Program (PDDRP).
The purpose of the program is to improve the health of low-income
Iowans through a prescription drug donation repository that
authorizes medical facilities and pharmacies to re-dispense
prescription drugs and supplies that would otherwise be destroyed.
Any medication,
except for controlled substances, may be donated if it is (1) “in
its original sealed and tamper-evident packaging. However, a
prescription drug in a single-unit dose or blister pack with the
outside packaging opened may be accepted if the single-unit dose
packaging remains intact. (2) The prescription drug bears an
expiration date that is more than six months after the date the
prescription drug was donated.” Medications that are dispensed in
traditional label and vial format cannot be donated.
Frequently Asked
Questions
Iowa Department of
Public Health Rules on Prescription Drug Donation Repository Program
To Learn More
contact Iowa Prescription Drug Corporation at 515-327-5405 or
1-866-282-5817.
Regulatory Bodies that
Oversee Pharmaceutical Waste Management:
- Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IowaDNR)
- State Pharmacy Boards
§
Iowa Board of Pharmacy
State regulations, as compared to the federal
regulations, may be more stern. California, Washington, and
Minnesota have more stringent hazardous waste regulations that
impact pharmaceutical waste management.
Pharmaceutical Waste Management
Resources:
Premier, Inc.:
This website will give you access to a webcast
presentation on how to implement a pharmacy waste management system,
a 10-step blueprint on managing this issue, and links to various
useful tools and agencies who oversee this subject matter.
Iowa Department of Natural Resources
(Iowa
DNR)
Reverse Distributors
What are reverse distributors?
According to
Iowa
Code, reverse distributors are defined as, ‘the receipt of
prescription drugs including controlled substances, whether received
from Iowa locations or shipped to Iowa locations, for the purposes
of destroying the drugs or returning the drugs to their original
manufacturers or distributors.’ In other words, reverse
distributors provide a method for pharmacies, hospitals, and
wholesalers to return drug products for destruction and a potential
credit from the manufacturer. It is important to note, some
distributors destroy medications and other hazardous supplies only
and do not provide credit. Different Reverse Distributors may have
different permits and accommodate the needs of different entities.
The regulatory bodies who oversee the reverse
distribution process are the same regulatory bodies that govern
pharmaceutical waste management (EPA, DEA, DOT, OSHA, etc).
Reverse Distributor
Companies
The major companies
that dominate 85% of the reverse distributor market are:
However, there are a
multitude of other smaller reverse distributors located throughout
the U.S. There is one reverse distributor located in the Des Moines
area and the contact information for them is provided below:
Iowa:
National Pharmaceutical Returns, Inc.
4164 NW Urbandale Drive
Urbandale, IA 50322
1-800-470-7725 or 515-252-7722
Schedules: 1,2,3,3N,4,5
Guide –
Choosing a Reverse Distributor
DEA Definition and Registration of Reverse Distributors
Federal Register Final Rule on Reverse Distributors