WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, co-chair of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, today released a message encouraging Iowans to participate in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day this Saturday, April 28.

According to a National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 6.4 million Americans abused controlled prescription drugs in 2015. The Iowa Department of Health reports that more than 200 hundred Iowans died from opioid misuse in 2017, a 300 percent increase since 2005.

In 2017, Grassley and Sen. Joni Ernst requested that the U.S. Government Accountability Office conduct a study into drug take-back programs. The results found that many pharmacies and other eligible entities do not participate because of high costs and burdensome federal compliance regulations.

In response, Grassley and Ernst, along with Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, introduced the bipartisan Access to Increased Drug Disposal (AIDD) Act, which would create a small-scale demonstration program in five states. Those states would be allowed to apply for grand funding from the Department of Justice, then would issue a detailed report on how the money was administered, who received it and how it impacted participation rates in drug take-back programs.  

National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day provides a free, anonymous and responsible way to dispose of unused prescription medications and help prevent misuse and abuse. To learn more about National Prescription Drug Take Back Day and find an authorized collection site, visit https://takebackday.dea.gov/.

Video of Grassley’s message is available here.

Audio of Grassley’s message is available here (1:07), here (:40) and here (:29).

A Q&A with Grassley on National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is available here.

Text of Grassley’s message is available below.

This Saturday is National Prescription Drug Take-back day – an effort to provide a safe, convenient and responsible way to dispose of unused and expired prescription drugs while raising awareness about abuse of prescription drugs. 

According to the Iowa Department of Public Health, last year, more than 200 Iowans died from opioid misuse. That’s a 300% increase since 2005. 

From rural America to the coasts and everywhere in between, the opioid epidemic is ruining individuals’ lives, families and entire communities. 

There’s no quick fix that will solve this problem overnight. 

Measures like take-back programs can go a long way to prevent a problem in the first place. 

Find a location near you at takebackday.dea.gov. 

 

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