For the second time in a year, the Soroptimist International Club of Calistoga has spared local landfills, streams and waterways from medication-related pollution.

“Yes, our event did indeed go well,” said Gayle Keller, who, along with Soroptimist Mary Ellen Hester, ran the so-called “No Drugs in the Drain” collection. “We collected around 193 pounds of unwanted medications and ‘sharps’ this past Saturday, which is almost 30 pounds more than last April.”

Back in April, the local women’s club was surprised by the turn-out for its first ever “No Drugs Down the Drain” campaign, when they had collected 162 pounds of discarded drugs and “sharps” or hypodermic needles.

“We were very surprised by the turnout,” said Keller, who is also co-owner of All Seasons Bistro. “When you think about how much a prescription of pills weighs when you hold it in your hand it feels really light.”

Among the many residents who brought the remains of old or expired medications was Virginia Dooley of Franz Valley, who swung curbside to hand Hester an old bleach bottle.

“My husband Jess has had diabetes for years so we’re really glad to see this program come along,” Dooley said.

Still, the increase in the amount of medications collected seemed to be no surprise to Keller.

“We were assuming our first collection in April was such a significant amount because of a pent-up demand for this type of service for Calistoga,” Keller explained. “We also thought at the time that there were likely a lot of people out there who hadn’t known about the event and that this collection would be even greater, and we were obviously correct.”

Keller said the Soroptimists are committed to continuing the event at least twice each year.

“The amazing thing was how many people were thanking us for providing this collection,” she said. “Meanwhile we’re thanking them for being so responsible and conscientious. We can all be proud of our efforts to protect our waterways.”

Environmental impact

Studies have shown that exposure to certain pharmaceuticals results in abnormal development and reproduction in fish and other wildlife, even at very low levels. For example, the antidepressant Fluoxetine (Prozac) delayed development of young Western mosquito fish. The numbers of male fish also have increased and have been associated with pharmaceuticals in ocean waters in Orange County.

With advances in technology and testing, some waterways that supply drinking water have been reported to have trace levels of many types of pharmaceuticals.

The drugs collected by the Soroptimists were turned over to the Calistoga Police Department.

“The police took them to the St. Helena Hospital where they have a special incinerator for pharmaceuticals,” Dierkhising said. “Some of them give off toxic fumes when burned.”

The pharmaceutical turn-in is a result of Senate Bill 966, passed in 2007. The California Integrated Waste Management Board is working to develop a long-term solution to drug disposal.

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