The Drug Enforcement Administration has issued a long-awaited final rule to expand options for the safe disposal of unused prescription drugs. The rule implements the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act enacted in 2010. Grassley co-sponsored the legislation to help prevent the diversion of opioids and other powerful pharmaceuticals for non-prescription use. Grassley is co-chairman of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control and Ranking Member of the Judiciary Committee. The new regulations go into effect Oct. 9. Grassley made the following comment on the new rule.
“There’s a serious problem across the country with opioid abuse. Teen-agers going into their parents’ medicine cabinets and helping themselves to opioids and other prescription drugs is one source of the problem. Drug diversion among adults is also a concern. More and more, people recognize the dangers of leaving leftover prescription drugs around the house. Military veterans who are prescribed large numbers of opioids and long-term care facilities especially need good disposal options. There’s a huge demand for responsible ways to dispose of those unneeded medicines. When anti-drug abuse coalitions in Iowa worked with law enforcement on take-back events over the past few years, the events yielded thousands of pounds of unused medicines. The new law will give the public even more options for prescription drug disposal. Local pharmacies will be able to participate, and the law as implemented offers more mail-in options, which is important for long-term care facilities and residents in rural areas. I’m disappointed that the Drug Enforcement Administration took four years to implement the law Congress passed but I look forward to seeing how Iowans participate in the new options for safe drug disposal.”
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