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Don’t Dump Drugs!: A call to action for all Quebecers to safely dispose of medical sharps and unused medications.

Quebec, | Oct 7, 2024

Montréal, Quebec — October 2, 2024 — The Health Products Stewardship Association (HPSA) is proud to announce the introduction of a return program for the safe disposal of unused consumer medications and used medical sharps at participating collection locations.

“The safe disposal of unused medications and used medical sharps protects our environment and our communities,” says Terri Drover, HPSA’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Through our program, we support businesses covered by the Regulation respecting the recovery and reclamation of products by enterprises (RRRPE) which, since 2022, are required to recover and reclaim a covered product, or to engage a recognized management organization (RMO) operating a program designed to properly handle their products throughout their life cycle.”

In 2022, the RRRPE was amended to include the category of unwanted pharmaceutical products for the purpose of their safe destruction, and to reduce health and environmental risks. In November 2023, the HPSA was granted the status of RMO by RECYC-QUÉBEC. As an RMO, the HPSA can represent, since June 30, 2024, any business covered by the RRRPE which is a member of the Association.

As such, the HPSA will work to ensure that a business remains in compliance with the RRRPE, and is updated on any amendment to the regulation on the extended producer responsibility related to pharmaceutical products.

Don’t Dump Drugs!:  A campaign that is gaining momentum

It is through the Don’t Dump Drugs! campaign that the HPSA wants to raise awareness among Quebecers as to the importance of returning their expired or unused medications, and used medical sharps, to collection locations throughout the province.

The HPSA’s program is also designed to collect products provided by veterinarians (pets only).

Collection locations as well as guidelines can be found on the healthsteward.ca website. Across Quebec, consumers will see posters displayed in pharmacies and veterinary clinics. Social media posts will also reinforce the campaign messaging.

“We are pleased with how pharmacies and veterinary clinics are getting involved across the province, and expressing their interest in becoming collection locations and supporting our program to help raise their clients’ awareness as to the importance of returning their used sharps and unused medications,” explains Alain Renard, HPSA’s Director of Stewardship Programs.

As of July 26, 2024, the HPSA already had over 1,000 participating pharmacies. The HPSA estimates that, as of October 2, 2024, more than 1,300 collection locations will be included in the program, including over 15 veterinary locations.

Towards the end of 2024, the HPSA hopes that 80% of community pharmacies will be involved throughout the province, including 1,520 locations, and 20% of veterinary clinics, i.e., about 100 veterinary locations.

“The AQPP is pleased that pharmacist owners are widely involved in this initiative, and will continue to work with the HPSA in order to pursue its efforts to increase the number of collection locations,” states Jean Bourcier, AQPP’s Executive Vice President and CEO.

Additionally, Jean Thiffault, President of the Association des bannières et des chaînes de pharmacies du Québec, asserts that “pharmacy chains and banners, including Walmart’s Accès Pharma, Brunet, Familiprix, Costco Wholesale’s Grégoire Arakelian pharmacies, Horizon Santé, Jean Coutu, Pharmaprix, Proxim and Uniprix, and members of the ABCPQ, rallied from the outset of the collection program, as the safe removal of unused medications is an environmental and public health priority. We are proud to support pharmacist owners and the HPSA towards the success of the program in Quebec, and will actively promote it across the province’s population.”

Improper disposal of waste has environmental and health impacts

Some pharmaceutical products have adverse effects on ecosystems when they enter the environment. Moreover, the health care industry is responsible for approximately 5% of total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Canada. Out of this percentage, medications account for 25% of the Canadian health care system’s GHG emissions, requiring better management.

Further, there is a public health risk of accidental or intentional diversion or poisoning if unused medications are pulled from public trash, and even within private homes.

Based on an HPSA survey conducted among Canadian parents to assess the knowledge and actions required to prevent the devastating effects of improperly disposing of unused medications, 47% of Canadian parents improperly dispose of unused medications inappropriately. The ratio for these medications is 71% for prescription and over-the-counter medications, and 82% for natural health products.

This survey also highlights that 85% of parents in Canada do not keep their medications locked away from their children and the elderly on a regular basis.

In Quebec, the clinical services provided by the Centre antipoison du Québec (CAPQ) in 2023 show that, of the 52,091 actual or potential cases of acute poisoning assessed and managed, most poisoning cases were unintentional (49%). In early 2024, the CAPQ had already identified over 30 deaths and approximately 800 intoxications with moderate to severe consequences related to prescription or over-the-counter medications, or to natural health product.

“The fact that the HPSA takes back end-of-life pharmaceutical products on behalf of the businesses that market them will help divert large flows of products that are hazardous to the Quebec environment. RECYC-QUÉBEC praises the HPSA for launching recovery and reclamation activities, and encourages covered businesses that cannot implement their own program to join the one recognized by the HPSA in Quebec. This program will continually be enhanced in order to reach sustainable performance and develop the available handling capabilities for these products,” explains Sabrina Charron, Director of Operations at RECYC-QUÉBEC.

“To avoid accidents or deaths related to the misuse of medications, it is important not to accumulate expired or unused medications at home, and to think about returning these medications to a pharmacy,” says AQPP President Benoit Morin.

Collaboration with First Nations

Involvement within First Nations Communities is critical. The HPSA engages in continuous discussions with Indigenous Services Canada regarding the processes in place in the 20+ communities in the southern part of the province to best support them. In addition, the HPSA works with the Kativik Regional Government (KRG) in Nunavik and the staff at health facilities in James Bay and Ungava to support the logistics and disposal of expired or unused medications and medical sharps among members of the communities. Information and awareness messaging will be translated in Inuktitut, and shared on community radio stations.

About the Health Products Stewardship Association

With nearly 25 years of experience, the Health Products Stewardship Association (HPSA) is a non-profit organization which operates collection programs in order to safely dispose of unused medications and natural health products and used medical sharps in the provinces of Ontario, British Columbia, Manitoba and Prince Edward Island, and since 2024, in New Brunswick and Quebec. For more information, visit healthsteward.ca.