Number
151803
Version
SUBSTITUTE 1
Reference
111219
Sponsor
ALD. BOHL, MURPHY, PEREZ AND DONOVAN
Title
Substitute resolution approving a Cooperation Agreement between the City of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, and CVS Pharmacy regarding a Mail-Back Prescription Drug Pilot Program.
Analysis
This resolution approves a Cooperation Agreement between the City of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, and CVS Pharmacy regarding a Mail-Back Prescription Drug Pilot Program.
This Mail-Back Prescription Drug Pilot Program will use tamper-proof mail-back envelopes which will be distributed free of charge to residents in participating Milwaukee County area CVS pharmacies and will be provided to local participating police departments for dissemination to residents in the community. Envelopes will be pre-addressed to participating police departments. Envelopes will be stored at municipal police departments until shipped as part of an ongoing joint municipal-federal Drug Enforcement Administration incineration operation.
The Police Chief is authorized to execute this cooperation agreement on behalf of the City.
Body
Whereas, Americans comprise 4.6% of the world’s population yet consume 80% of the global opioid supply and 99% of the global hydrocodone supply as well as two-thirds of the world’s illegal drugs; and
Whereas, Wastewater treatment plants are not designed to remove all medicines from wastewater; and
Whereas, Various levels of antibiotics, anti-depressants, veterinary drugs, birth control hormones and other drugs have been detected in rivers and lakes across the country; and
Whereas, Medication disposal programs provide an environmentally safe alternative to flushing medications down the toilet; and
Whereas, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has classified prescription abuse as an epidemic; and
Whereas, People who abuse prescription opioids may progress to heroin use; and
Whereas, According to the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office, heroin-related overdose deaths in Milwaukee County have increased 495% from 20 in 2005 to 109 in 2015; and
Whereas, The federal Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010, amended the Controlled Substances Act to provide for take-back disposal of controlled substances in certain instances; and
Whereas, The goal of the Act is to encourage and allow public and private entities to develop a variety of methods for safe collection and disposal of pharmaceutical controlled substances; and
Whereas, The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has announced that Milwaukee is the second of four cities in the Midwest to take part in a pilot comprehensive diversion control, law enforcement and prevention “360 Degree Strategy” to help cities dealing with the painkiller and heroin abuse epidemic and associated violent crime; and
Whereas, A mail-back prescription drug pilot program is an innovative way to decrease the supply of unused prescription drugs, including opioid pain relievers and complements the goals of the DEA “360 Degree Strategy”; and
Whereas, A 24-month mail-back prescription drug pilot program has been developed by the City of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, and CVS Pharmacy with the support of the Wisconsin Office of the Attorney General and the DEA, Milwaukee District Office; and
Whereas, This mail-back prescription drug pilot program will use tamper-proof mail-back envelopes which will be distributed free of charge to residents in participating Milwaukee County area CVS Pharmacies; and
Whereas, Envelopes will also be provided to local participating police departments, including the Milwaukee Police Department for dissemination to residents at community meetings; and
Whereas, Envelopes will be pre-addressed to participating police departments; and
Whereas, Envelopes will be stored at municipal police departments and later shipped as part of the joint municipal-DEA incineration operation; and
Whereas, CVS Pharmacy will provide funding the cost of purchase and printing of tear-resistant mail-back envelopes; and
Whereas, The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District will provide funding for postage costs for the duration of the pilot program for participating Milwaukee County municipalities; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the Cooperation Agreement between the City of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, and CVS Pharmacy regarding a Mail-Back Prescription Drug Pilot Program, a copy of which is attached to this file, is approved; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Police Chief is authorized to execute this cooperation agreement on behalf of the City; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the City Comptroller and other proper City officials are directed to take whatever steps are necessary to fulfill the intent of this resolution; and, be it
Further Resolved, This program is authorized to use the City of Milwaukee logo.
Requestor
Drafter
LRB162092-2
Amy E. Hefter
4/8/2016