HomeMy WebLinkAboutITEM V-CCITY OF
AGENDA BILL APPROVAL FORM
~ WASHINGTON
Agenda Subject: Date:
Resolution No. 4547 December 14, 2009
Department: Attachments: Budget Impact: Finance Resolution No. 4547
Administrative Recommendation:
City Council to approve Resolution No. 4547
Background Summary:
Resolution No. 4547 supports a secure, convenient medicine return program to reduce the public safety
and environmental impacts of unwanted medicines.
Reviewed by Council & Committees: Reviewed by Departments & Divisions: ❑ Arts Commission COUNCIL COMMITTEES: ❑ Building ❑ M&0
❑ Airport ❑ Finance ❑ Cemetery ❑ Mayor
❑ Hearing Examiner ®Municipal Serv. ❑ Finance ❑ Parks
❑ Human Services ❑ Planning & CD ❑ Fire ❑ Planning ❑ Park Board ❑Public Works ®Legal ❑ Police
❑ Planning Comm. ❑ Other ❑Public Works ❑ Human Resources
❑ Information Services
Action: Committee Approval: ❑Yes ❑No
Council Approval: ❑Yes ❑No Call for Public Hearing l I
Referred to Until I I Tabled Until I I
Councilmember: Backus Staff: Coleman
Meeting Date: December 14, 2009 Item Number:
. ,,a r
RESOLUTION N0.4_
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF AUBURN, WASHINGTON, SUPPORTING
A SECURE, CONVENIENT MEDICINE RETURN
PROGRAM TO REDUCE THE PUBLIC SAFETY
AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF UNWANTED
MEDICINES.
WHEREAS drug overdose deaths have increased so as to surpass car
accidents as the leading cause of accidental deaths in Washington State, and
40% of poisoning deaths involve prescription opioid pain relievers; and
WHEREAS abuse of prescription pain killers ranks second, only behind
marijuana, as the Nation's most prevalent illegal drug problem; and
WHEREAS abuse of medicines by teenagers is an growing problem,
including abuse of prescription drugs such as painkillers, sleeping pills, anti-
anxiety drugs, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medications, as
well as over-the-counter drugs, such as cough and cold remedies; and
WHEREAS over half of the people using prescription drugs for non-
medical reasons obtained them from a friend or relative for free, and 15% of 10t"
graders in Washington who abused prescription pain relievers got them from
their own home or someone else's home without permission; and
WHEREAS unwanted medicines left in the home could increase
opportunities for drug abuse, drug diversion, and accidental poisonings, and
WHEREAS unwanted medicines disposed to sanitary sewer systems are
not completely treated by the wastewater treatment facilities, allowing
pharmaceuticals to be released into the environment; and
Resolution No. 4547
November 24, 2009 Page 1 of 4
WHEREAS disposal of unwanted medicines to residential garbage is not
secure and medicines in solid waste systems may end up in landfill leachate,
which is pumped to wastewater treatment facilities, eventually allowing
pharmaceuticals to be released into the environment; and
WHEREAS pharmaceuticals have been detected in the surface waters of
Washington State and around the United States and in the drinking water of 24
major metropolitan areas affecting 41 million Americans; and
WHEREAS the number and volume of pharmaceuticals prescribed to U.S.
residents has increased dramatically in the past decade with Washington State
residents now purchasing an average of 9 prescriptions per year, resulting in
greater accumulations in Washington State homes, and
WHEREAS unused or unwanted quantities of prescription and over-the-
counter medicines are projected to be substantial, with some studies estimating
that between 30% and 80% of patients do not finish commonly prescribed
medicines such as pain medicines, antibiotics, and beta blockers; and
WHEREAS a pilot medicine return project operating in Washington State
since October of 2006 by Group Health Cooperative and Bartell Drugs has
collected more than 27,000 pounds of unwanted household pharmaceuticals,
demonstrating the demand and feasibility of such a system; and
WHEREAS sheriff and police offices in several Washington counties and
cities are operating drug take-back programs that collect and dispose of legally
prescribed controlled substances; and
Resolution No. 4547
November 24, 2009 Page 2 of 4
WHEREAS communities are struggling to implement and finance
programs to address the public safety impacts of leftover medicines in resident's
homes and the environmental impacts of improper disposal of unwanted
medicines; and
WHEREAS pharmaceutical manufacturers currently operate and fund
successful drug take-back systems in Canada and several countries in Europe.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUBURN
HEREBY RESOLVES as follows:
Section 1. That the City of Auburn supports establishment of a
convenient, safe, secure, and environmentally sound medicine return program for
unwanted medicines from households through an internalized pharmaceutical
manufacturer financing mechanism that covers the cost of collection,
transportation, and hazardous waste disposal, and does not rely on state and
local government funding.
Section 2. That the Mayor is authorized to implement such
administrative procedures as may be necessary to carry out the directives of this
legislation.
Section 3. That this Resolution shall take effect and be in full force
upon passage and signatures hereon.
Dated and Signed this day of , 2009.
CITY OF AUBURN
PETER B. LEWIS, MAYOR
Resolution No. 4547
November 24, 2009 Page 3 of 4
ATTEST:
Danielle E. Daskam, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Daniel B. Heid, City Attorney
Resolution No. 4547
November 24, 2009 Page 4 of 4