County policies drove Wash. drug take-back law

Error message
In order to filter by the "in queue" property, you need to add the Entityqueue: Queue relationship.-
County NewsWhen the Washington State Legislature passed the Secure Drug Take-Back Act in March, it was a hard-won victory for health and safety advocates battling the opioid epidemic. It was also the culmination of years of policy work by counties to access safe drug take -back for their residents.County policies drove Wash. drug take-back law
-
County News Article
County policies drove Wash. drug take-back law
When the Washington State Legislature passed the Secure Drug Take-Back Act in March, it was a hard-won victory for health and safety advocates battling the opioid epidemic. It was also the culmination of years of policy work by counties to access safe drug take -back for their residents. The state law was modeled on local ordinances that are proof-of-concept for requiring the pharmaceutical industry to provide convenient take-back options for leftover and expired medicines.
Secure drug take-back for leftover medicines is a prevention strategy to help shut down the “drug dealer” in the medicine cabinet, the most common starting place for addiction to opioids and other medicines. It is also a strategy in preventing suicides, poisonings and overdoses from medicines in the home. Proper disposal keeps potentially harmful drugs out of unsecured trash cans and prevents waste medicines from adding to pharmaceutical pollution that is affecting aquatic ecosystems.
The ordinances passed in seven Washington counties, as well as the new state law, are pharmaceutical stewardship policies where medicine manufacturers are required to finance and operate a secure and convenient system of drop boxes and other collection methods, and conduct education about safe medicine storage and disposal. Pharmaceutical industry financing and coordination relieves burdens on local law enforcement and health agencies that have been struggling to provide programs and manage the large volumes of drugs returned by residents.
Learn More
Don’t be an accidental drug pusher; try new way to discard old meds
Written by Pierce County Council members Rick Talbert and Connie Ladenburg
The local policy strategy that led to a success in the state Legislature came about after similar state bills were repeatedly blocked by pharmaceutical industry opposition. Proponents shifted their approach to encouraging their local Boards of Health to adopt the policy. Boards of Health in Washington can enact county-wide legislation to protect public health. County councilmembers serve on the health boards, which may also include city-level elected officials and appointed health professionals. In California, similar ordinances have been enacted by the Boards of Supervisors in 10 counties. These local officials focused on addressing community needs in the face of the pharmaceutical industry’s challenges, which included unsuccessful lawsuits against Alameda County, Calif. and King County, Wash.
Work on the local ordinances caught the attention of Washington State Rep. Strom Peterson (D), a Snohomish County legislator who has led other initiatives to address the opioid crisis. Deciding it was time to try again at a statewide solution, Peterson championed the Washington Secure Drug Take-Back Act, House Bill 1047, with the support of a broad coalition including pharmacies, law enforcement, health professionals, public health, substance abuse prevention groups, mental health advocates, water agencies and environmental organizations. The bill passed with strong bipartisan support after the pharmaceutical industry’s opposition was largely neutralized through lobbying and negotiations.
Manufacturer responsibility
Washington’s is the first state law that requires pharmaceutical manufacturers to provide for all costs of a convenient system for secure collection and safe disposal of unused medicines. This is not a tax and government-run program approach; instead the industry members directly finance the drug take-back services and coordinate program logistics. Drug manufacturers can work together or independently to design their program and form agreements with service providers to meet the law’s requirements.
In practice, more than 400 pharmaceutical companies have formed a stewardship organization called MED-Project LLC, which operates programs in response to the county laws. The estimated cost of the drug take-back program to the manufacturers is about 0.1 percent of annual medicines sales, or 1 penny from every $10 in medicine sales. Advocates of the law see that as a smart investment in public safety, especially given the huge societal costs of drug abuse. Drug manufacturers can internalize the costs or pass them along the pharmaceutical supply chain, but a point-of-sale charge is not allowed.
Improved drug take-back services with industry financing
The pharmaceutical industry is providing DEA-compliant drug take-back programs under the local Secure Medicine Return ordinances in King, Kitsap, Pierce, and Snohomish counties, which make up about 56 percent of Washington’s population. Under similar laws, programs are in the works in Clallam, Whatcom and Skagit counties.
Services for residents have dramatically increased. More than 170 drop boxes are available to residents free-of-charge in the four counties. All drop boxes accept controlled substances like Oxycontin and Percocet along with other prescription and over-the-counter medicines. Industry funding has made it possible to expand collection sites from police stations to more convenient drug stores, clinics and hospitals. Residents with limited mobility can request a prepaid return mailer through a website or a toll-free number.
Pharmacies, hospitals, and other collectors provide in-kind support by hosting secure drop boxes and assisting with public education. Under the Washington policies, collectors participate voluntarily. Any qualified pharmacy, hospital or law enforcement agency that volunteers to host a secure drop box must be included in the collection system financed by drug manufacturers. Voluntary drug take-back programs, like those operated by chain stores such as Walgreens, are not impacted by the local or state laws.
State law consistent with local policies
Rep. Peterson and proponents held a united front during legislative negotiations to ensure the state law had equivalent or better program standards than the successful local laws. Washington’s law prohibits new local mandates and eventually preempts the existing local ordinances, but the consistency of the policies should prevent loss of services won through county actions.
After the pharmaceutical industry begins operations of a drug take-back program approved by the state Department of Health, there will be a one-year transition where the county-level programs will merge into the statewide system. Implementation of the state law is underway and expected to result in more convenient drug take-back services across Washington by late 2020.
When the Washington State Legislature passed the Secure Drug Take-Back Act in March, it was a hard-won victory for health and safety advocates battling the opioid epidemic.2018-06-11County News Article2019-02-20
When the Washington State Legislature passed the Secure Drug Take-Back Act in March, it was a hard-won victory for health and safety advocates battling the opioid epidemic. It was also the culmination of years of policy work by counties to access safe drug take -back for their residents. The state law was modeled on local ordinances that are proof-of-concept for requiring the pharmaceutical industry to provide convenient take-back options for leftover and expired medicines.
Secure drug take-back for leftover medicines is a prevention strategy to help shut down the “drug dealer” in the medicine cabinet, the most common starting place for addiction to opioids and other medicines. It is also a strategy in preventing suicides, poisonings and overdoses from medicines in the home. Proper disposal keeps potentially harmful drugs out of unsecured trash cans and prevents waste medicines from adding to pharmaceutical pollution that is affecting aquatic ecosystems.
The ordinances passed in seven Washington counties, as well as the new state law, are pharmaceutical stewardship policies where medicine manufacturers are required to finance and operate a secure and convenient system of drop boxes and other collection methods, and conduct education about safe medicine storage and disposal. Pharmaceutical industry financing and coordination relieves burdens on local law enforcement and health agencies that have been struggling to provide programs and manage the large volumes of drugs returned by residents.
Learn More
Don’t be an accidental drug pusher; try new way to discard old meds
Written by Pierce County Council members Rick Talbert and Connie Ladenburg
The local policy strategy that led to a success in the state Legislature came about after similar state bills were repeatedly blocked by pharmaceutical industry opposition. Proponents shifted their approach to encouraging their local Boards of Health to adopt the policy. Boards of Health in Washington can enact county-wide legislation to protect public health. County councilmembers serve on the health boards, which may also include city-level elected officials and appointed health professionals. In California, similar ordinances have been enacted by the Boards of Supervisors in 10 counties. These local officials focused on addressing community needs in the face of the pharmaceutical industry’s challenges, which included unsuccessful lawsuits against Alameda County, Calif. and King County, Wash.
Work on the local ordinances caught the attention of Washington State Rep. Strom Peterson (D), a Snohomish County legislator who has led other initiatives to address the opioid crisis. Deciding it was time to try again at a statewide solution, Peterson championed the Washington Secure Drug Take-Back Act, House Bill 1047, with the support of a broad coalition including pharmacies, law enforcement, health professionals, public health, substance abuse prevention groups, mental health advocates, water agencies and environmental organizations. The bill passed with strong bipartisan support after the pharmaceutical industry’s opposition was largely neutralized through lobbying and negotiations.
Manufacturer responsibility
Washington’s is the first state law that requires pharmaceutical manufacturers to provide for all costs of a convenient system for secure collection and safe disposal of unused medicines. This is not a tax and government-run program approach; instead the industry members directly finance the drug take-back services and coordinate program logistics. Drug manufacturers can work together or independently to design their program and form agreements with service providers to meet the law’s requirements.
In practice, more than 400 pharmaceutical companies have formed a stewardship organization called MED-Project LLC, which operates programs in response to the county laws. The estimated cost of the drug take-back program to the manufacturers is about 0.1 percent of annual medicines sales, or 1 penny from every $10 in medicine sales. Advocates of the law see that as a smart investment in public safety, especially given the huge societal costs of drug abuse. Drug manufacturers can internalize the costs or pass them along the pharmaceutical supply chain, but a point-of-sale charge is not allowed.
Improved drug take-back services with industry financing
The pharmaceutical industry is providing DEA-compliant drug take-back programs under the local Secure Medicine Return ordinances in King, Kitsap, Pierce, and Snohomish counties, which make up about 56 percent of Washington’s population. Under similar laws, programs are in the works in Clallam, Whatcom and Skagit counties.
Services for residents have dramatically increased. More than 170 drop boxes are available to residents free-of-charge in the four counties. All drop boxes accept controlled substances like Oxycontin and Percocet along with other prescription and over-the-counter medicines. Industry funding has made it possible to expand collection sites from police stations to more convenient drug stores, clinics and hospitals. Residents with limited mobility can request a prepaid return mailer through a website or a toll-free number.
Pharmacies, hospitals, and other collectors provide in-kind support by hosting secure drop boxes and assisting with public education. Under the Washington policies, collectors participate voluntarily. Any qualified pharmacy, hospital or law enforcement agency that volunteers to host a secure drop box must be included in the collection system financed by drug manufacturers. Voluntary drug take-back programs, like those operated by chain stores such as Walgreens, are not impacted by the local or state laws.
State law consistent with local policies
Rep. Peterson and proponents held a united front during legislative negotiations to ensure the state law had equivalent or better program standards than the successful local laws. Washington’s law prohibits new local mandates and eventually preempts the existing local ordinances, but the consistency of the policies should prevent loss of services won through county actions.
After the pharmaceutical industry begins operations of a drug take-back program approved by the state Department of Health, there will be a one-year transition where the county-level programs will merge into the statewide system. Implementation of the state law is underway and expected to result in more convenient drug take-back services across Washington by late 2020.
Hero 1
About Margaret Shield (Full Bio)
Margaret Shield is a policy consultant working on public health and environmental health issues. She has contributed to the development of pharmaceutical stewardship policies in Washington as staff for county agencies and as a consultant.More from Margaret Shield
-
Blog
House and Senate Committees advance opioid legislation; NACo releases analysis of opioid bills in Congress
Following three weeks of hearings and markups throughout May, the U.S. House of Representatives recently advanced more than 50 legislative proposals aimed at combatting the opioid epidemic.
-
Webinar
County Strategies to Recruit and Retain a Strong Behavioral Health Workforce
Jan. 26, 2023 , 2:00 pm – 3:00 pmUnable to attend? Watch the recording here. -
Reports & Toolkits
Effective Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder for Incarcerated Populations
This resource describes evidence-based practices for the treatment of opioid use disorder for incarcerated persons. -
Blog
New federal guidance improves access to opioid treatment in county jails
Two new reports from the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) offer guidance on improving the provision of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorders (OUD) in correctional facilities as well as clarifies disability protections of people on MAT for OUD. -
Reports & Toolkits
Legislative Analysis for Counties: The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023
This analysis includes funding highlights for key programs impacting counties. -
County News
Erie County, N.Y. faces deadly ‘Blizzard of the Century’
County staff from Erie County, and elsewhere offered lifelines to snowed-in residents during a December blizzard. -
County News
Getting the band back together: County defenders rock the holidays
Pima County, Ariz. attorneys bond, find common ground over musical talents, thanks to some creative public defenders
-
Webinar
Reducing Jail Populations: Decreasing Bookings and/or Arrests through Diversion, Citations and Warrant Avoidance and Resolution
March 2, 2023 , 2:00 pm – 3:00 pmReducing the number of people arrested and booked into jails for low-level offenses and misdemeanors through diversion and citations, as well as outstanding warrants for failing to appear in court or not paying fines and fees, can help decrease jail populations by reserving detention beds for people who are a risk to public safety or a serious f03022:00 pm<p>Reducing the number of people arrested and booked into jails for low-level offenses and misdemeanors through diversion and citations, as well as outstanding warrants for failing to appear in court or not paying fines and fees, can h
-
Webinar
Reducing Jail Populations: Lowering Recidivism through Jail- and Community-Based Treatment and Services
April 6, 2023 , 2:00 pm – 3:00 pmReducing recidivism through effective jail- and community-based services can decrease jail admissions and populations and improve outcomes for people with criminal histories.04062:00 pm<p>Reducing recidivism through effective jail- and community-based services can decrease jail admissions and populations and improve outcomes for people with criminal histories.</p>
-
Basic page
The Stepping Up Initiative
In May 2015, NACo and partners at the CSG Justice Center and APA Foundation launched Stepping Up: A National Initiative to Reduce the Number of People with Mental Illnesses in Jails.pagepagepage<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:100%" summary="call-out">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td> -
Basic page
Justice & Public Safety Steering Committee
All matters pertaining to criminal justice and public safety systems, including criminal justice planning, law enforcement, courts, corrections, homeland security, community crime prevention, juvenile justice and delinquency prevention, emergency management, fire prevention and control, and civil disturbances.pagepagepage<p>All matters pertaining to criminal justice and public safety systems, including criminal justice planning, law enforcement, courts, corrections, homeland security, community crime prevention, juvenile justice and delinquency preven
-
Reports & Toolkits
Opioid Solutions Center
NACo’s Opioid Solutions Center empowers local leaders to invest resources in effective treatment, recovery, prevention and harm reduction practices that save lives and address the underlying causes of substance use disorder.Reports & Toolkitsdocument10123:30 pmReports & Toolkits<p>NACo's Opioid Solutions Center empowers local leaders to invest resources in effective treatment, recovery, prevention and harm reduction practices that save lives and address the underlying causes of substance use disorder.
Contact
Related Resources
-
Blog
New federal guidance improves access to opioid treatment in county jails
Two new reports from the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) offer guidance on improving the provision of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorders (OUD) in correctional facilities as well as clarifies disability protections of people on MAT for OUD. -
County News
Erie County, N.Y. faces deadly ‘Blizzard of the Century’
County staff from Erie County, and elsewhere offered lifelines to snowed-in residents during a December blizzard. -
County News
Getting the band back together: County defenders rock the holidays
Pima County, Ariz. attorneys bond, find common ground over musical talents, thanks to some creative public defenders
-
Reports & Toolkits
Effective Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder for Incarcerated Populations
This resource describes evidence-based practices for the treatment of opioid use disorder for incarcerated persons. -
Reports & Toolkits
Legislative Analysis for Counties: The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023
This analysis includes funding highlights for key programs impacting counties. -
County Profiles
Counties in Action
Learn how counties are demonstrating leadership and commitment to delivering effective abatement activities at the local level.
Related Events
-
2Mar2023Webinar
Reducing Jail Populations: Decreasing Bookings and/or Arrests through Diversion, Citations and Warrant Avoidance and Resolution
Mar. 2, 2023 , 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm -
6Apr2023Webinar
Reducing Jail Populations: Lowering Recidivism through Jail- and Community-Based Treatment and Services
Apr. 6, 2023 , 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm