274694 Alameda County Safe Medication Disposal Ordinance

Monday, October 29, 2012 : 12:30 PM - 12:45 PM

Linda Pratt, MA, Member APHA , CommPre, Horizon Services, Inc., Hayward, CA
     
In July 2012, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors passed the Safe Medication Disposal ordinance, believed to be the first ordinance of its kind in the United States. Advocates worked for several years to pass the ordinance, which holds drug manufacturers responsible for safe disposal of unused medications. Drug manufacturers will now be responsible for designing, operating, and funding disposal of unused medications. Advocates included Drug Free Communities Coalitions from Castro Valley, Ashland, and Cherryland in Alameda County. This presentation will explain the contents of the ordinance and discuss early implementation experiences.

Learning Areas:
Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines

Learning Objectives:
Describe the Alameda County Safe Medication Disposal ordinance Explain challenges and opportunities experiences in initial implementation

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to present because has worked in the Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention (AOD) field for twenty two years. I has served as the Program Director of CommPre, an environmental prevention ATOD program of Horizon Services, Inc., located in Alameda County, California for fifteen years. I oversee the ATOD prevention activities of several coalitions. I am an MPH and have presented on public health policy and advocacy issues related to safe medications disposal.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3205.0: Public Health Harms from Legal Products: Challenges of Countering Industry Influence in Alcohol, Tobacco, Prescription Drugs, and Food in the US