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Articles of Interest and Position Statements 2008 Annual Conference Webpage 2007 Annual Conference Webpage 2006 Annual Conference Webpage 2005 Annual Conference Webpage
Safe Medicine Disposal for ME Program
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MBSG Steering Committee Members Heather Ashton, MD Emeritus
Professor of Gillian Bartlett-Esquilant, Phd McGill Univ. Clinical & Health Info. Research Grp. James Berry, MD Family Practice Residency, Eastern Maine Medical Center The Honorable Gail Chase Former Maine State Auditor Ted Callanan, MD Chairman of Psychiatry, Memorial University of Newfoundland Ben Crocker, MD Medical Director MMC Physician-Hospital Organization Bill Flagg Director of Community Relations and Development Cary Medical Center Bob Gagne Public Affairs Counsel Colle+McVoy Stevan Gressitt, MD Maine Benzodiazepine Study Group Robert Hayes, Esq. Medicare Rights Center Lenard Kaye, DSW/PhD Director UMaine Center on Aging Doug Ross National Drug Intelligence Center Karen Simone, PharmD, DABAT Managing Director Northern New England Poison Center Erik Steele, DO Vice President Eastern Maine Medical Center Richard Stefanacci, DO, MBA, MGH Founding Executive Director Health Policy Institute University of the Sciences in Philadelphia Gerry Mugford, PhD, CMH Faculty of Medicine & School of Pharmacy Memorial University of Newfoundland
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Save the Date
November 10-11, 2008
2008 International Symposium on Pharmaceuticals in the Home and Environment:
Catalysts for Change
Sixth Annual Maine Benzodiazepine Study Group
Conference
&
Fifth Annual Unused Drug Return
Conference
Wyndham Portland Airport Hotel
363 Maine Mall Road
South Portland, Maine 04106
click here to see the Save the Date announcement
Call for Proposals Now Open!
Maine Governor Declares October 31, 2007 as Proper Drug Disposal Day!
Click here to view the proclamation
Athens Declaration: Endorsements Sought!
At the 2nd International Conference on the Environment held in the City of Athens Cultural Center (Greece), a declaration was adopted addressing unused consumer medications. Countries whose attendees signed the declaration by vote included: the United States, Canada, UK, Spain, Romania, Greece, Germany, Switzerland, India, Phillipines, and Italy. We are now requesting further endorsements of individuals, NGOs, corporations, organizations, government, and government entities. We anticipate presenting the Declaration at a number of international and national conferences and meetings as well as by way of presentations directly to international governments and agencies.
The first formal North American review of the Declaration will be on October 31st-November 1st, 2007 at the Fifth Annual Maine Benzodiazepine Study Group & Fourth Annual Unused Drug Return International Conferences at the Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland, Maine.
Questions and further inquiries may be addressed to Dr. Stevan Gressitt at gressitt@uninets.net
SECOND ROUND ENDORSEMENTS
SOUGHT!
The proposal for a National Unused Drug Disposal Program, was submitted to leading federal agency officials on November 22, 2006. While subject to further refinement, it represents the joint efforts of a number of collaborators associated with the Maine Benzodiazepine Study Group and Unused Drug Disposal Group. This initative resulted from the convening of the Fourth Annual Maine Benzodiazepine Study Group International Conference and the Third Annual Unused Drug Return International Conference held on October 23-24, 2006 in Portland, Maine.
We invite you to review the proposal and encourage strongly your endorsement. Your endorsement can be provided electronically by completing and submitting the response form.
We believe this represents one of the most significant opportunities to date to bring this critical issue to national administration attention and strongly encourage broad scale participation in the endorsing process.
As of November 22, 2006, endorsements had been received from 67 individuals and organizations throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe.
Thank you so very much for your support.
Stevan
E. Gressitt, M.D.
Lenard W. Kaye, D.S.W./Ph.D.
Secretaries
Maine Benzodiazepine Study Group and Maine Unused Drug Disposal Group
Click here to view proposal and current endorsements
About the Maine Benzodiazepine Study Group:
The Maine Benzodiazepine Study Group was formed in late 2002 as an initiative of Northeast Occupational Exchange in Bangor, and is comprised of physicians, epidemiologists, nurse practitioners, drug abuse specialists, health care providers, payers, advocates, and other interested parties in Maine, including the University of Maine Center on Aging. Members from other US States, and the Canadian provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and Quebec round out the group.
The MBSG was created to gather data on benzodiazepine use and to consider evidence-based strategies that promote appropriate prescribing and usage. The group meets monthly utilizing various information technology services.For general information about the group, e-mail to: mbsg@mainebenzo.org or call (207) 262-7920 or fax (207) 262-7921.
News and Events
Dramatic rise in accidental drug-overdose deaths reported
Unintentional fatal drug overdoses in the United States nearly doubled from 1999 to 2004, overtaking falls to become the nation's second-leading cause of accidental death, behind automobile crashes, the government reported.
The number of accidental drug overdose deaths rose from 11,155 in 1999 to 19,838 in 2004, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More...
Dr. Stevan Gressitt interviewed for news article on prescription drug abuse in Maine
Click here to read the article.
The Second Tsunami DVD Now Available
On December 26, 2004, a tsunami devastated the coasts of Southeast Asia. The world mobilized to help and the promises made by governments suggested that the affected countries would have enough funds to replenish their stocks of medicines which had been destroyed in the tsunami. Unfortunately, despite the issuance of Guidelines for Drug Donations in 1996, the same mistakes were repeated with dramatic health and economic effects on disaster-affected countries. The Second Tsunami, a 26-minute documentary produced by Pharmaciens Sans Frontieres Comité International, addresses the impact on the countries hit by the disaster and the aftermath of donated pharmaceuticals on this region.
DVDs are available for $12.00 each (including shipping and handling to US and Canadian addresses). Please make checks payable to UMaine Center on Aging. For additional shipping fees for addresses outside of the US and Canada or for more information, please email info@mainebenzo.org.
Dr. Stevan Gressitt's Presentation at the Patient Compliance Congress now available
Dr. Stevan Gressitt, MBSG Secretary, presented at the Patient Compliance Congress to be held on November 30-December 1, 2006 in Philadelphia . The Patient Compliance Congress is organized by Eyeforpharma for those working in the pharmaceutical industry.
Click here to learn more about the event
Click here to view Dr. Gressitt's presentation in PDF format
Heather Ashton DVD Now Available!
A DVD of Dr. C. Heather Ashton's April 2006 Vancouver B.C. lecture is available from the Psychiatric Medication Awareness Group (PMAG). Dr. Ashton speaks on "Benzodiazepine Dependence and Withdrawal Methods" - how benzodiazepines and hypnotics affect the brain and body, symptoms of dependence, the personal/social costs of benzodiazepine dependence, benzodiazepine use and other substances such as street drugs, withdrawal, effective tapering plans, outcomes and long-term symptoms, and best practices.
The 90-minute DVD is a useful educational tool for health care facilities, health care professionals, non-profit organizations, and those who take benzodiazepines. Up to 5 copies may be made for appropriate use. The DVD costs $25 (Canadian) and is available from PMAG's web site: www.psychmedaware.org/ashton_DVD.html
Or by sending
a cheque or money order to:
Focus Consultants
Dept. 20, Box 4276
Victoria, B.C. Canada V8X 3X8
For
further information, email: dvd@psychmedaware.org
CoA to Oversee the MBSG
The University of Maine Center on Aging is pleased to announce that it will now act as the hosting organization to the Maine Benzodiazepine Study Group. This move will allow the Center to continue its focus on the effects of benzos and prescription drugs on older adults. The MBSG is currently developing subgroup interest areas to guide the group's work in the coming years... Learn more here
