Drug incineration program bill clears first round

Nebraska pharmacies could participate in a nationwide drug disposal program under a bill given first-round approval Feb. 14.

Grand Island Sen. Mike Gloor, sponsor of LB274, said the bill makes changes to the Pharmacy Practice Act that would have a positive environmental impact on the state. Currently, state law allows unused prescription drugs to be returned to the dispensing pharmacy for immediate disposal, he said, which normally means flushing the drugs down the toilet.

“They find their way into our water system,” Gloor said. “Yet, we continue to do this because we have no better way of disposing of these medications.”

Gloor said removing the words “dispensing pharmacy” and “immediate” from state law would allow Nebraska to participate in a nationwide program that provides pharmacies secure containers to collect unused drugs regardless of where they were dispensed. When full, containers are shipped to a medical incinerator for disposal, he said.

LB274 would allow pharmacies to charge a fee for drug disposal and would change the calculated expiration date for prescriptions from six months to one year.

The bill advanced from general file on a 38-0 vote.