OLYMPIA – Washington is one of 16 states where accidental poisonings have surpassed auto accidents to become the number one cause of accidental deaths. Most accidental poisonings are from medications, which can be found in almost every household.
In a hearing before the House Environment Committee today, Rep. Kevin Van De Wege discussed why he is pushing House Bill 1370, which would create a statewide program for the collection, transportation and disposal of unwanted medications, funded by drug companies. The idea has come before the Legislature before, but Van De Wege says his proposal is a streamlined, reasonable approach that includes cost caps but would still have a significant impact on what is becoming a growing problem.
“We’re asking industry to create an umbrella group and divide up the cost sharing among themselves,” Van De Wege said. “It’s not a core function of law enforcement or local governments to safely dispose of a drug company’s product.”
This resonates with Clallam County Sheriff Bill Benedict, who supports Van De Wege’s bill. Clallam County has had a drug take-back program for the past five years that has collected approximately two and a half tons of unwanted medications for safe disposal.
“I think a sensible system of taking back medicines is both fiscally sound and environmentally responsible,” Sheriff Benedict said.
Grays Harbor County Sheriff Mike Whelan also supports the idea of a statewide program to safely dispose of medications.
“We don’t want kids getting into these medicines and taking them,” he said.
In today’s public hearing, the committee heard what can happen when unwanted medications get into kids’ hands. Andrew Maggard said he knew he wasn’t supposed to flush his deceased father’s medications down the toilet, but wasn’t sure how to safely dispose of them. He stored them in a bag, but his teenage son got into the bag and died after taking some of the drugs.
“Non-narcotic drugs, even though they’re prescriptions, still kill,” Maggard said, as he and his wife, Rebecca Runyon, held up a photo of their son for the committee.
Van De Wege, who is also a first responder in Clallam County, says key people like paramedics, hospital staff, nursing home staff and law enforcement can educate people and spread the word about safe drug disposal.
“If there’s a single, statewide take-back program, it’s more efficient,” Van De Wege said.
Today’s hearing is the first step for the bill as it makes its way through the Legislative process. Members of the Environment committee will decide whether or not to send it to a vote of the full House on February 10.