States recycle unused drugs

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NEW YORK (AP) — The struggle to keep soaring medical costs in check is feeding an increase in state programs that collect unused prescription drugs to give away to the uninsured and poor.

Some states allow donations of sealed drugs from individuals, while others accept pharmaceuticals only from institutions, such as doctor's offices or assisted-living homes. Drugs typically are vetted by pharmacists to cross-check safety, then distributed by hospitals, pharmacies or charitable clinics.

The types of drugs donated run the gamut and include antibiotics, antipsychotics, blood thinners and antidepressants.

At least 33 states have laws to allow or study drug-recycling programs, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, but most are just a few years old or still in the test stages.

In Iowa, David Fries, chief executive officer of the Iowa Prescription Drug Corp., said the program has the potential to double or triple in the near future. Officials in Tulsa, Okla., also see plenty of room for growth.

"There are millions of dollars of unused meds out there that have not been captured," said Linda Johnston, director of social services for Tulsa County.

"These are medications that would've otherwise been destroyed," said Roxanne Homar, Wyoming's state pharmacist.

A pilot program in Cheyenne, Wyo., last year netted $81,000 in donated drugs to fill 557 prescriptions. State officials say that is just a small slice of the vast reserves of drugs that go to waste each year.

Drug-recycling programs pay for themselves "by just working with one patient and saving them and keeping them out of the hospital over the long term," Mr. Fries said.

Between March and December of last year, Iowa's drug-recycling program collected 319,000 dosage units worth an estimated $292,000.

In Louisiana last year, one charitable pharmacy in Baton Rouge filled more than 38,000 prescriptions worth $2 million.

In Florida, however, a program created two years ago to get cancer drugs to the uninsured has languished. Critics say the program has lacked publicity.