Substantive Policy

Controlled Substances Destructions Policy Statement (outdates)

SUBSTANTIVE POLICY: CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE DESTRUCTION GUIDELINE

To ensure compliance with the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) requirements and local ordinances, Board of Pharmacy compliance officers will only destroy unwanted or outdated controlled substances under the specific conditions detailed in this guideline.

The Board of Pharmacy does not have the necessary funds or personnel to properly destroy the numerous quantities of unwanted or outdated controlled substances held by Arizona pharmacies and medical practitioners. The following policy guidelines are implemented to establish a consistent method of handling unwanted or outdated controlled substances and ensure proper and safe disposal. Therefore, as of November 6, 2002, the following policy guidelines are applicable:

• 1) REGISTRANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO USE A PROPERLY REGISTERED RETURNS PROCESSOR/REVERSE DISTRIBUTOR FOR DESTRUCTION OF UNWANTED OR OUTDATED CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES. A LIST OF DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION (DEA) REGISTERED RETURNS PROCESSORS/REVERSE DISTRIBUTORS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE ARIZONA OFFICE OF THE DEA: 3010 NORTH SECOND STREET, SUITE 301, PHOENIX, ARIZONA 85012 OR CALL (602)664-5600 AND ASK FOR THE DIVERSION GROUP.
• 2) A REGISTRANT WITH ACCESS TO A PROPERLY LICENSED/PERMITTED INCINERATOR MAY USE THE INCINERATOR FOR DRUG DESTRUCTION BY CONTACTING A BOARD OF PHARMACY COMPLIANCE OFFICER WHO WILL WITNESS THE DESTRUCTION AND VALIDATE AND COSIGN AN ALREADY COMPLETED DEA DESTRUCTION FORM (DEA 41).
• 3) A REGISTRANT WHO DOES NOT HAVE AN INCINERATOR OR DOES NOT WISH TO USE A REGISTERED RETURNS PROCESSOR/REVERSE DISTRIBUTOR MAY REQUEST AN ON SITE DRUG DESTRUCTION BY A BOARD OF PHARMACY COMPLIANCE OFFICER UNDER THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS:
  a) BEFORE REQUESTING THE DESTRUCTION, THE REGISTRANT MUST HAVE WRITTEN APPROVAL FROM THE CITY OR COUNTY WATER TREATMENT AUTHORITY TO FLUSH THE DRUGS DOWN THE SANITARY SEWER.
  b) BEFORE REQUESTING THE DESTRUCTION, THE REGISTRANT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR COMPLETING THE REQUIRED DEA DESTRUCTION FORM (DEA 41).
• 4) DEA DESTRUCTION FORMS (DEA 41) MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE ARIZONA DEA OFFICE, THE BOARD OF PHARMACY OFFICE, OR THE BOARD OF PHARMACY'S WEBSITE: www.azpharmacy.gov

This substantive policy statement is advisory only. A substantive policy statement does not include internal procedural documents that only affect the internal procedures of the agency and does not impose additional requirements or penalties on regulated parties or include confidential information or rules made in accordance with the Arizona Administrative Procedure Act. If you believe that this substantive policy statement does impose additional requirements or penalties on regulated parties you may petition the agency under A.R.S. § 41-1033 for a review of the statement. REV. 08/2002