Mission for MedsImprovement in Pharmaceutical Waste Management at the

US Army Community of Caserme Ederle in Vicenza, Italy

Presented by Edith Lang for Walden University

Mission for Meds• OBJECTIVES

1. Increase the knowledge of adult Caserme Ederle community members regarding the risks of accumulation of medications in the personal environment.

2. Discuss appropriate reasons for medication waste management in conjunction with current pharmacy take-back program.

3. Increase the return rate of unused medications to the US Army Health Center, Vicenza pharmacy for proper disposal.

What is a Medication? (Meds)

• Medications include:

any prescription drug (Army or Host Nation)

store bought or over-the-counter drug

herbal supplement

diet supplements including body building agents

Vitamins

medications for pets should also be considered

History of Risks

• 51% of Worldwide Sales to the US• Residuals of medications found in the

environment– Direct disposal (sewage or trash)– Bodily waste

• Water treatment systems– Not all can be removed

• Federal Policies

What is the Risk?

• Risks of accumulation of such products in your home include:– Accidental ingestion by children or pets– Expired products may have alternative effects

or ineffective results when used– Disposal into the water sources through the

sink or toilet– Disposal into regular waste receptacles

Cycle of Exposure

High use of Meds in North America

Medications in the Home

Waste in Trash

Exposure to humans and animals

Waste in Sewage

Environmental and life form exposure

Disposal to Pharmacy

Regulated management

Hazardous Waste Collection & Federal Programs

Mission for Meds:Do the Right Thing

USAMMCE:United States Army Materiel Management

Center, Europe–Since 1995–Goals–No Charge–Benefits

What should I do?• Assess your home for:

– Unused medications– Expired medications– Unwanted medications

• Take-’em-Back– Keep medications in their original container– TAKE any unused, expired, or unwanted

medication BACK to the Pharmacy at the US Army Health Center, Vicenza.

US Army Health Center, Vicenza – bldg 113

Take-Back Pharmacy

• The pharmacy on Caserme Ederle is located in the health center building 113

• Hours of operation are from 0800 to 1700 Monday through Friday– Saturday from 0900 to 1300 hrs

Hours of Operation

Other assistance regarding medication safety

Also consider contacting (DSN numbers)– Army Community Service (ACS) 634-7500– Family Advocacy Program (FAP) 634-7489– Community Health Nurse 634-8010– Child and Youth Services (CYS) 634-7206– Patient Safety Officer 634-7952– Your medical provider 634-7484

ReferencesBuxton, T., & Kolpin, D. (2002, June). USGS Fact Sheet FS-027-02: Pharmaceuticals,

Hormones, and Other Organic Wastewater Contaminants in U.S. Streams. Retrieved April 14, 2009, from http://toxics.usgs.gov/pubs/FS-027-02/

Daughton, Christian G. (2003, May). Cradle-to-cradle stewardship of drugs for minimizing their environmental disposition while promoting human health. II. Drug disposal, waste reduction, and future directions. Environmental Health Perspectives, 111(5). Retrieved April 1, 2009, from http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/picrender.fcgi?artid=1241488&blobtype=pdf

EPA. (2009). Pharmaceuticals and personal care products in water. Retrieved April 13, 2009, from http://epa.gov/waterscience/ppcp/

EPA. (2008, February). Drug disposal: ramifications for the environment and human health. Retrieved April 13, 2009, from http://www.epa.gov/ppcp/projects/disposal.html

References ContinuedMackridge, A., & Marriott, J. (2007). Returned medicines: waste or a wasted opportunity? Journal of Public Health,

29(3), 258-262. Retrieved April 1, 2009, from http://jpubhealth.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/29/3/258

Ruhoy, I., & Daughton, C. (2007). Types and quantities of leftover drugs entering the environment via disposal to sewage - revealed by coroner records. Science of the Total Environment, 388(1-3), 137-148. Retrieved April 13, 2009, from http://www.epa.gov/nerlesd1/bios/daughton/SOTE2007.pdf

Seebusen, D., & Edwards, J. (2006). Patient practices and beliefs concerning disposal of medications. Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, 19(6), 542-547). Retrieved April 1, 2009, from http://www.jabfm.org/cgi/reprint/19/6/542

Snyder, S., Westerhoff, P., Yoon, Y., & Sedlak, D. (2003). Pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and endocrine disruptors in water: implications for the water industry. Environmental Engineering Science, 20(5), 449-469. Retrieved April 14, 2009, from http://faculty.washington.edu/korshin/Class-486/EES-review-2003.pdf

US Army Materiel Management Center, Europe,. (2009). Drug returns program. Secured website reviewed on April 20, 2009.

Xia, K., Bhandari, A., Das, K., & Pillar, G. (2005). Occurrence and fate of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in biosolids. Journal of Environmental Quality, 34, 91-104. Retrieved April 14, 2009, from http://jeq.scijournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/34/1/91

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