Presentation Abstract

Maine: First U.S. Legislation for Unused Pharmaceutical Returns
Stevan Gressitt
Maine Association of Psychiatric Physicians, Manchester, ME

This presentation focuses on a history of the origin, development, advisors, and complications leading to the first state legislation addressing unused, private citizen (non-Drug Enforcement Administration registrant) medication. Rationale for the legislation will be given as four points. The various interested parties will be identified, their contributions will be provided, and the outline of the legislative coalition will be described. Specific barriers, real, political, or assumed will be made clear. Legislative outcome will be explained, Legis-lative Study Committee developments will be outlined, and the latest legislative update also will be illustrated. The current status of the final legislation will be given along with a fiscal note. Political and organizational developments subsequent and parallel will be reviewed. Original research for the process and the status of that research will be summarized. Ramifications of one known dataset on returns will be discussed. Known barriers to further progress will be noted from a medical perspective. Pharmacoeconomic aspects of the legislative outcome will be identified, potential for pharmacovigilance and pharmacosurveillance will be noted, and implications for law enforcement and homeland security will be addressed. A taxonomy of return programs will be proposed with comments on the experience from other countries and geo-political areas. Finally, product surety aspects will be noted, and implications for clinical practice will be proposed.

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