Over the past year the King County, Washington, Board of Health explored in depth the significant problems related to unused medicines within King County and policy options to address these problems. On June 20, 2013 the King County Board of Health adopted new Secure Medicine Return Regulations for secure collection and environmentally sound destruction of unwanted medicines from residents in King County.
On September 11, 2013 stakeholders to the Secure Medicine Return process by the King County Board of Health received an informational letter under Dr. Fleming’s signature and related materials (a copy of King County Board of Health Code, Chapter 11.50 a copy of a factsheet). Letters and related materials were sent to a list of 200 stakeholders to the Secure Medicine Return process.
Stakeholders
- Pharmaceutical Industry
- Independent pharmacies & associations
- Large retail pharmacies & associations
- Washington state agencies (such as the Board of Pharmacy)
- Health/medical/substance abuse prevention groups
- Law enforcement
- Environmental & community NGOs
- Product Stewardship entities
- Local governments (mayors, HHW contacts)
- Tribes
- Citizens (5 unaffiliated residents who provided comments to the Board of Health)
Resources
King County Board of Health Code, Chapter 11.50, “Secure Medicine Return Regulations”