Mary KohrellCommunity Development Educator, Calumet County

University of Wisconsin - Extension

Wisconsin has been an innovator in reducing improper disposal of pharmaceutical wastes since 2006.This presentation will provide information about recent developments and improvements

A broad array of partners◦ Local solid waste and recycling staff◦ University of Wisconsin – Extension◦ Local and county law enforcement◦ Health care providers◦ Pharmacies◦ Health Departments◦ Environmental organizations◦ Water Utilities◦ WI Department of Agriculture and WI DNR

WI DNR - early leadership by allowing one-day collection programs

Slow and steady increase in 1 day efforts La Crosse County Solid Waste facility

became first permanent disposal option with deputized solid waste staff, which inspired more program growth.

WI DATCP grant program caused an explosion in program growth.

◦Over 3/4th of Wisconsin counties have some type of collection program◦ Explosion of permanent drop locations

at police stations – over 50◦ Collection at one permanent HHW

collection site◦ Pilot mail back program in 2 urban

counties

Police and sheriff departments in Monroe, Columbia, Kewaunee, Door, Dunn, Fond du Lac Brown, and other counties have new permanent programs◦ Utility in Brown County has received WI DNR

permission to incinerate limited quantities of medications

Dane, Manitowoc, Sheboygan, Waupaca, Wood, and other Counties offering additional one-day programs

13 police departments in Milwaukee County partnering with MMSD

Collected 4 tons of meds at one-day event and police department drop boxes

Northwest WI RPC Clean Sweep program – 9 counties with at least one drug drop off in each county

Continue to offer one-day collections throughout service area

Permanent collection boxes in local Police Depts in Appleton, Oshkosh, Brillion, and Seymour

Possible new boxes in other communities in the area

Working in partnership with Lake Winnebago Area MEG Unit

Appleton box has yielded nearly ½ ton of meds

1750 customer returns 75%+ return rate Potpourri of products

received◦ Maintenance

medications: diabetes, hypertension ◦ Over the counter

medications Over 90% of

participants returned several items

Two surveys◦ Survey #1 - Calumet, Outagamie and

Waupaca (COW) Counties◦ Survey #2 - Waukesha and Winnebago (WW)

Counties Three populations◦ Random sample households in COW

Counties (N = 343)◦ Random sample households in WW Counties

(N = 331)◦ Sample of participants in Mail-Back program

in WW Counties (N = 152)

Current understanding of issue is spotty Participants in the mail-back program were

significantly different than the general population

There appears to have been a substantial change in people’s behavior in terms of how they have disposed of unused meds

If educational programs are to be targeted, the greatest need are among younger people, men, those with less formal education and those with lower household incomes

Educational efforts will need to utilize multiple communication vehicles

Leftover medication collection programs in the study area have changed as a result of research

Pilot mail back prescription program has been discontinued due to lack of ongoing funding source

Multiple collection methods will continue to be necessary in the short term due to preferences across age groups

Considering other outreach methods to reach younger, lower income populations, such as Facebook, Twitter