Derek Theler: No More Sharps
Derek Theler is an American actor and model, best known for starring in ABC’s comedy, Baby Daddy, and is currently starring in Paramount’s comedic drama series 68 Whiskey. Derek is the spokesperson for Sharps and Needle Destruction Devices (SANDD™), which provide diabetics with safe and environmentally friendly disposal of needles.
An Interview with Derek Theler: No More Sharps
Recent data from the Coalition for Safe Community Needle Disposal (Coalition) indicates that 13.5 million people in the United States are discarding 7.8 billion used needles outside the traditional healthcare setting.
The majority of these patients are managing their own healthcare (e.g. diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, HIV, Hepatitis C, osteoporosis, infertility) by self-injecting medication at home. The number of needles generated by illegal drug users increased 500,000 – from 1 million to 1.5 million in the past 10 years.
Based on this 10-year increase, the number of used needles generated in the United States has increased from 3 or 4 billion to 7.8 billion. This number excludes veterinary care in the U.S., which is reported to be significant for large animal and livestock healthcare.
~ In Los Angeles, 5,000 hypodermic needles were found in a homeless encampment walking distance from Disneyland.
~ In one month alone, San Francisco collected more than 13,000 syringes from the streets;
~ Santa Cruz reported finding more than 14,500 needles; Santa Cruz officials received reports of 12 people getting stabbed with those needles in 1 month, half of them children.
People, often children, risk getting stuck by discarded needles, raising the prospect they could contract blood-borne diseases such as hepatitis, HIV, and now the rapidly spreading COVID19.
While the opioid crisis can certainly be to blame, another major cause is the improper disposal of needles. Folks around the US are finding it incredibly hard to safely dispose of their sharps; leading them to throw their used needles away in milk jugs or other unreliable containers. From there, needles easily find their way from the trash to the streets.
Derek Theler is an American actor and model, best known for starring in ABC’s family comedy, Baby Daddy. Derek’s role on the hit series landed him multiple Teen Choice Award nominations, including “Breakout Star” and “Best Liplock.” Since landing Baby Daddy, Derek has appeared in multiple films, including Brotherly Love, How Sarah Got Her Wings, Chicago Sanitation and Shark Killer.
Currently, Derek is starring in Paramount Network’s forthcoming scripted comedic drama series 68 Whiskey, a Ron Howard directed dark comedic hour that follows a mix of men and women deployed as Army medics to “The Orphanage” – a forward operating base in Afghanistan.
68 Whiskey had his Global premier in January 2020.
In our conversation, Derek talks about his Diabetes, and about being an official spokesperson for Sharps and Needle Destruction Devices (SANDD™).
At 3 years old, Derek was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes or Juvenile Diabetes. In the hopes to combat this deadly disease, Derek became the official spokesperson for Sharps and Needle Destruction Devices (SANDD™), which provide diabetics with safe and environmentally friendly disposal of needles. This year, he will star in a campaign to educate audiences about the chronic autoimmune disease and raise awareness towards safe needle disposal for those who self-inject at home. The SANDD mini™ is the only FDA-approved portable, battery-operated needle destruction device that eliminates the use of sharps containers for disposal in both clinical and home settings.
An Alaskan native, Derek grew up playing sports, loved riding motorcycles, and graduated from Colorado State with a degree in Pre-medicine. He appeared as a model in commercials for Nike, Coke Zero, Kayak, Arby’s, State Farm and Verizon.
OMTimes: Derek, you have been very public about your struggle with juvenile diabetes, tell us why you’ve decided to speak out?
Derek Theler: Diabetes has been a huge part of my life, so it’s really shaped me to be the person I am today.
My sister was also diagnosed with Type 1 at age three, just like me. When I was younger, it was very isolating; I don’t remember many people in the entertainment business (athletes, artists, actors) talking openly about Type 1 diabetes. I want to build a community online for those who need resources or knowledge about diabetes. I also want to educate people about all the technology currently available.
Most of all I want Type 1 diabetics to know that they can live an extraordinary life with or without diabetes.
OMTimes: What was it like growing up for you?
Derek Theler: I had a great childhood in Colorado. I was very involved with school and sports. Diabetes made it incredibly challenging because I had to be very responsible for my age. I had to adhere to a strict diet, and I had to be very responsible about my schedule with my insulin injections.
OMTimes: You became the face of awareness for safe needle disposal and recently announced your partnership with Sharps and Needle Destruction Device (SANDD). What motivated you to step up and bring the issue to the forefront?
Derek Theler: Anything that improves the safety and health of people with Type 1 diabetes is important to me. When I realized that this device eliminates the fear of getting accidentally stuck with a needle, I knew I wanted to be a part of the company. This device makes for a safer environment for everyone.
OMTimes: Tell us about the Sharps and Needle Destruction Device (SANDD) devices.
Derek Theler: This small device uses a lithium battery to incinerate most needles or syringes. It destroys the needle so that the tip is entirely blunt and unusable again. It’s a huge step in the right direction when it comes to safety for health professionals, law-enforcement professionals, and eliminates this biohazard material that liters all significant cities.
OMTimes: We have heard of adults and children who have been stuck by dirty needles in parks and beaches; one story that caught the eyes of many was Bruce Willis’ six-year-old daughter pricking herself in the foot with a hypodermic needle. What do you think this tells us about the needle crisis?
Derek Theler: It is a real problem. I think this incident and many others like it proves that we need to find a better way to dispose of biohazard material such as needles. I’m proud to be partnered with a company that is trying to help the environment and to increase safety for all those who come in contact with used needles.
OMTimes: If you could send a message to every child with Juvenile Diabetes, unaware of the future ahead, what would you tell them?
Derek Theler: Be optimistic. Technology had dramatically improved since the time when I was a child, and I was worried about my future as well. Now there’s a community of people with Type 1 diabetes who are talking openly about the disease and sharing their own experiences. I think now is the best time ever to be a Type 1 diabetic, and my goal is to show you that you can live an extraordinary life!
OMTimes: What do you hope comes out of your partnership with SANDD?
Derek Theler: My hope is that people take to the device and put it to good use. I believe if people use the SANDD device in their homes and in medical facilities to incinerate the needles, it will significantly cut down on the accidental needle sticks in America. I’m also proud to say that SANDD will donate $10 to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation for every unit sold.
OMTimes: We are all struggling to stay mentally and physically fit while in quarantine, tell us what you’ve been doing to stay healthy?
Derek Theler: These times are strange, aren’t they? I’m very fortunate to have a house with a little bit of space and two dogs. Many people don’t know that I have put a lot of time into training my dog, Neptune, to become an actor dog.
He’s appeared in commercials for Milk-Bone, Nature’s Recipe dog food, and Petco, to name a few. I have also been training his new apprentice, Leo, to be a trained actor as well. I’ve been maintaining my fitness by running around my neighborhood and training in my backyard with weights.
OMTimes: What is next for you?
Derek Theler: Right now, we’re waiting to hear about a season two for 68 Whiskey.
Personally, I’m looking forward to the future. I feel like I’ve just started up my career, and I’m looking forward to breaking into the film business.
I’ve always been a massive fan of action movies, I grew up watching Arnold Schwarzenegger and Keanu Reeves, making the type of movies I would love to participate in.
Regarding the future of our planet, I hope that people can begin to see the real danger of loose sharps and how much damage a poorly disposed of the needle can have on the environment.
I’ve heard reports from dozens of people saying they’ve run out of ways to safely throw their needles away; some are even being told to use milk jugs or empty Clorox bottles! Anyone who self-injects medicine at home will know how expensive and difficult it is to find places to dispose of their used sharps.
When we don’t safely dispose of needles, they eventually wind up in trash cans where animals can find them, waste handlers stuck, and a whole lot more.
We’re hearing stories about needles ending up in parks, on trails, on our sidewalks, on beaches; it never ends.
With SANDD mini™, we can stop the crisis. Communities can use these devices at home, incinerate their biohazardous sharps and throw the needle away! Law enforcement and hospitals have already started using these SANDD™ devices, now folks at home have access. Let’s stop this crisis together and begin to focus on the planet! It’s the only one we have.
Learn more about SANDD™ devices at https://www.nomoresharps.com/works/
