Staff Writer
Recent collections in Houlton and Presque Isle helped remove nearly 300 pounds of unwanted medications from area households.
The Unused and Expired Medicine Return Program got its start in 2007,
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
UNWANTED MEDICATIONS were sorted for proper disposal at the Presque Isle Transfer Station recently, helping remove a variety of drugs from ending up in the environment or being misused in a number of ways. The first major collection of its kind in the area, the program was done in conjunction with the annual collection of household hazardous waste. Pictured sorting the bottles as they were dropped off were, from left: Lee Shaw, a pharmacist from Graves Shop N Save; Carol Bell, project director, Healthy Aroostook, a project of ACAP; Stacy Boucher, program manager for Power of Prevention; and Megan Cronkite, a registered pharmacist with The Aroostook Medical Center.
when a diverse group of people came together to start planning for the first large-scale household medication collection in Aroostook County.
“Group members had different interests in working on the collection project, including the protection and enhancement of public health and safety, prevention of crime and protection of the environment,” said Carol Bell, project director for Healthy Aroostook, a project of ACAP.
Bell said unused, unwanted and expired medications sit in medicine cabinets in almost every home, presenting a health and safety threat to people, pets and the environment.
“Since these no longer useful medications are left in homes, it increases the possibility of accidental poisonings, drug overdoses and criminal drug diversion,” said Bell.
In its first year, the program was deemed a success, with plans to do a similar collection again in the future.
“This was our first year. We’d like to do it again but it’s very expensive to dispose of such items. This year’s collections were made possible through the support of the four major hospitals in Aroostook. We had a budget of $2,000. We worked with NMDC, which was in its third or fourth year of its household waste pick-up program. The same company that disposes of those products allowed us to piggyback – dispose of the medications through them,” said Nick Archer, regional director for the Department of Environmental Protection.
Archer said the improper disposal through flushing or throwing medications in with household trash can result in the release of toxic chemicals to the environment. Studies have been done showing the environmental harm to ground and surface waters due to long-term, chronic pharmaceutical exposure.
While participants ranged in age from young couples to senior citizens, Bell said the majority were older citizens.
“We saw a lot of older people or those bringing in (medications) for their parents,” said Bell.
Bell said in November of 2007, the two Healthy Maine Partnerships in Aroostook County, Healthy Aroostook and Power of Prevention, came together to begin exploring the possibility of sponsoring the first county-wide unwanted medication collection event. As the process began, she said many diverse groups stepped forward to collaborate on the project. Partners participating in this initiative included:
• Mid Coast Hospital;
• DEP – state and local offices;
• The Aroostook Medical Center;
• Houlton Regional Hospital;
• Cary Medical Center;
• Northern Maine Medical Center;
• Aroostook Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition;
• Tri Community Landfill – central Aroostook;
• Pine Tree Waste – Houlton;
• Presque Isle Solid Waste;
• Northern Maine Development Commission;
• The County of Aroostook; and
• Maine Department of Agriculture.
Local and state police also worked closely with organizers, helping with the disposal of controlled substances.
“The emphasis should be on the police departments. As a group, they’ve been very supportive,” said Archer, noting that medications can be dropped off at local police departments, who will then dispose of the unwanted medications.
Medications can be dropped off at Houlton, Presque Isle and Caribou 24 hours a day, while other departments will accept such medications during regular business hours.
“This year’s prescription return events were planned for the fall of 2008 to coincide with the annual Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection day that NMDC coordinates each year. By collaborating, the cost of transportation was reduced and people were already familiar with the HHW process,” said Bell.
It was felt that long-term sustainability could be achieved by partnering on a project that takes place each year and keeping costs low enough to be able to gain local support to cover the cost, said Bell.
Archer said that when given the opportunity, “County residents want to do the right thing.”
“When there’s a better way to dispose of such products, citizens want to do what’s right,” he said.
Organizers were also concerned about the growing problem of drug use – or misuse.
“There’s a real concern about the growing drug problem and the number of homes that have drugs, especially controlled drugs, no longer being used. This is a way to safely get rid of them and keep them out of the wrong hands,” said Archer.
“Studies indicate kids addicted to drugs get them from medicine cabinets, especially from family members,” added Bell, noting break-ins for the purpose of stealing drugs is on the rise.
The Presque Isle Police Department has seen an increase in drug-related theft cases in recent years.
“We’re seeing more crimes committed involving the theft of drugs. That’s why collections like these are so important,” said Det. Bill Scull, of the PIPD.
Non-controlled medications collected at this fall’s events had an estimated market value of $18,000 and a street value of $100,000, said Bell, with an additional $9,500 in controlled substances turned in. The non-controlled substances were taken with the household hazardous waste for disposal.
“The controlled substances were turned over to MDEA (Maine Drug Enforcement Agency) for disposal,” said Scull.
Bell said she and others involved are looking forward to doing this again.
“The first year was a success. It will continue to be a yearly event,” said Bell.
For more information on disposing of unwanted medications, contact the DEP at 764-0477, your health care provider or your local police department.
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
DOZENS OF MEDICATIONS, included pills of all shapes and sizes, were collected recently in Presque Isle, removing unwanted medications from ending up in the environment or being misused in some way. When completed, nearly 300 pounds of non-controlled and controlled substances were turned in, with an estimated street value of $100,000.
Photo courtesy of Carol Bell
Volunteers gathered unwanted medications recently in Houlton. Pictured, from left: Tracy Tweedie, project director Healthy Aroostook; John Scovil, pharmacist; Jayne Ballard, pharmacist; Marge Melvin, nurse; and Carol Bell, project manager, Healthy Aroostook.
