The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is continuing its work to write rules to implement the secure drug take-back law passed by the 2018 Legislature (HB 1047). DOH has held two public workshops and issued two versions of a draft rule. Issues include details on how the pharmaceutical industry will ensure convenient drug collection services across the state and how DOH will determine whether mail-back or collection events are needed in any areas lacking sufficient drug drop-off boxes.
The final rules workshop for the initial draft rule will be Monday, September 24 from 1 - 5 pm in Tumwater and via webcast.
Cities that want to comment should plan to attend this workshop and/or submit written comments as soon as possible after the final workshop. After reviewing comments, DOH will issue a final draft rule in early 2019 and hold a public hearing, with a goal of adopting the final rule by April or May 2019.
DOH’s Drug Take-back Program website has more information and links to the proposed draft rule.
Source: Obamawhitehouse.archives.gov (2016)
Under the new Drug Take-back Program, all pharmaceutical manufacturers selling drugs in Washington must participate in financing and operating a convenient statewide system of DEA-compliant drop boxes, mail-back envelopes, and other collection methods for leftover prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Drug manufacturers must also educate the public about safe medicine storage using the drug take-back program. The law defines key goals and standards that the program must achieve, including providing services for each city or town. Drug take-back program proposals must be submitted by manufacturers by July 1, 2019.
DOH will review the program proposals and provide a public comment opportunity. DOH projects the earliest possible launch date for an approved drug take-back program is late April 2020. After the state-level program launches, it will incorporate the manufacturer-financed drug take-back programs currently operating in several counties, creating consistent services across the state.