3/23/2011 BOARD OF HEALTH Minutes

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Town of Mashpee En = f16 Great Neck Road N OLE�. � Mas hpee, Massachusetts 02649 BOARDof HEALTH PUBLIC SESSION Mashpee Town Isar[ — Meeting Room 7 Minutes of the Meeting of Wednesday, March 23, 2011 Board Members ers Present. Also Pr n i Kalllope Egloff, Chairman Glen Hardngt n: Health Agent Lacy Burton, Co-Chairman Burton Caplan, Clerk Chairman Kalliope Egloff called the meeting to order at :00 PIM, APPOINTMENTS i7:15 PSI - Mile Maguire— Presentation on Unwanted Medication Disposal Mike Maguire introduced himself to the Board, stating that he was an employee of the cape Cod Cooperative Extension, a Barnstable County department. Mike stated that his job for the county is to operate several different household hazardous waste programs. Mile stated that he organizes all hazardous waste collections on Cape Cod and is responsible for sharps container distribution programs free to the towns, and mercury collections programs. As a result of the many phone calls received regarding inquiries about proper disposal of unwanted medications, the county created an education program to address the proper disposal process. Mike Maguire proceeded with his presentation of the big picture of Unwanted Medication Disposal and how it applies to Cape Cod. . Origin of Pharmaceutical Dilemma. There are two different concerns about unwanted medications: law enforcement, and environmental. . Lav Enforcement Concerns. The use of pharmaceuticals, both prescription and over-the- counter, is exploding, and is an easy target for illegal use, 3. Environmental Concerns. Harmful chemicals are being disseminated into the water supply through disposal of leftover medications being flushed down the toilet. . Fundamental Federal Problem. DEA is responsible for preventing the illegal diversion of unwanted medications; EPA is-responsible for providing guidelines for protecting the environment from pharmaceutical contamination. The DEA strict guidelines conflict with the EPA concerns, thus creating a problem at the federal level. . Local Consequences. If the local agencies wait until the federal agencies provide guidelines, we are sitting on an emerging and growing problem. . Disposal. Cape Cod is particularly vulnerable to contamination of the groundwater supply duce to the widespread use of onsite septic system's and wells. Septic systems were designed to destroy bacteria, not complex chemicals. Wells must be tested on a regular periodic basis. . li e*-Spons red Drug Collectfon. The nurrent DEA regulation allows onIy for later enforcement agents to conduct community-wide take-back drug programs. There must also be a pharmacist present to inventory, sort and track each one of the pharmaceuticals collected. Drug take-back events can be a valuable way for communities to safely dispose.of unwanted medicines, but they are expensive for towns to administer: