WHY SAFE MEDICINE DISPOSAL FOR ME?

The state of Maine has experienced and documented the consequences of unused prescription medicine remaining in circulation. In 2002, nearly 90% of all drug deaths in Maine were caused by prescription medicine (Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Substance Abuse, 2005). In addition, Maine Drug Enforcement Agency arrests for prescription medicine misuse or diversion have increased dramatically to 16% of all arrests (Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Substance Abuse, 2005).

To learn more about the need for a safe medicine disposal program, click here to view the Detailed Fact Sheet

Safe Medicine Disposal for ME represents the first program of its kind in the nation. The Center on Aging and its statewide and national partners received funding from the United States Environmental Protection Agency to pilot a prescription medicine disposal program by mail. The program is now funded through a Fund for Healthy Maine allocation to the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency. This program will provide postage-paid envelopes and participant surveys to interested individuals throughout Maine.

For an overview of the program, click here to view the Program Summary

WHAT ARE THE OBJECTIVES OF SAFE MEDICINE DISPOSAL FOR ME?

This innovative program has three key objectives:

1. Create a centralized mail-in collection point for disposal of unused medicine, allowing researchers to analyze the type and quantity of medicine that is accumulating in the homes of Maine residents.

2. Use program research to inform prescribing policy and practice in Maine

3. Develop an educational outreach campaign to inform Maine’s older adults and caregivers about the risks to keeping unused medicine in the home, as well as the benefits of safe medicine disposal.

 

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE MEDICINE?

All envelopes with the unused medicine and completed surveys will be returned to the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency for safe storage. The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency will oversee the cataloging and disposal of returned medicine.

Click here to view the Medicine Catalog Form

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE SURVEY?

Each medicine disposal envelope includes a Participant Survey and Survey Instructions and Informed Consent. The survey is designed to assess the type of returned medicine and reason for its return. It was developed based upon a model created by the Community Medical Foundation for Patient Safety.
Click here to view or print the Participant Survey

Click here to view or print the Survey Instructions and Informed Consent

Surveys will be collected by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and returned to the Center on Aging for analysis. Information collected will include basic demographic data, the source of medicine that was returned in the program envelope, identification of contents, reasons for returning the medicine, and an evaluative assessment of the usefulness of the project.

HOW CAN I FIND OUT THE RESULTS OF THIS PROGRAM?

Information about the amount and type of medicine that was returned will be posted on this website as it becomes available. In addition, a best practices guidebook will be developed for use by other states to implement this tested methodology elsewhere. Best practice replication workshops will be offered at the annual International Symposium on Pharmaceuticals in the Home and Environment:
Catalysts for Change conference held in Maine. Related papers will be presented at national professional conferences, and results will be published in professional environmental protection, pharmaceutical, aging, drug enforcement, and substance abuse journals.

Click here to view a presentation given at the 2009 International Symposium on Pharmaceuticals in the Home and Environment (PDF format)

WANT MORE INFORMATION?

View the Safe Medicine Disposal for ME Program Brochure
View Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
Or call the Safe Medicine Disposal for ME Program Helpline at: 1-866-637-9743