PORTER INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO COMBAT PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE

National study will give law enforcement, elected officials and the private sector direction in combating epidemic

Washington, DC- Today, Congressman Porter introduced legislation to combat the growing epidemic of prescription drug abuse in southern Nevada. The legislation calls on the Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy in consultation with the Attorney General, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a study on prescription drug disposal programs, ‘‘take-back programs,” in which individuals return unused prescription drugs to pharmacies or other locations for controlled disposal.

Many states are enacting laws that are designed to establish programs to facilitate the return of prescription drugs for disposal and possible reuse.  Congressman Porter’s study will identify ways in which such programs can be monitored to ensure that abuse does not occur.

According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, prescription drug abuse is the Nation’s second most serious illegal drug problem. Prescription drug abuse among individuals between the ages of 18 and 25 rose by 17 percent between the years of 2002 and 2005, driven mostly by the non-medical use of pain relievers.

With respect to the number of new users in 2004 and 2005, prescription drug abuse led all other illicit drug categories. Data from the 2006 National Drug Threat Survey issued by the National Drug Intelligence Center reveal that 78.8 percent of State and local law enforcement agencies reported either high or moderate availability of illegally diverted pharmaceuticals.

Congressman Porter’s bill also requires the Environmental Protection Agency to conduct a study of the environmental impacts of current prescription drug disposal programs. “The affects of prescription drug disposal programs on the environment is another important area in which public safety is a concern,” Porter explained.   

“Prescription drugs have created a unique challenge in our war on drugs,” Porter said today. “These drugs are accessible and abused. My legislation will help lead to a pragmatic solutions that will enable consumers to return their unused drugs and ensure they do not unintentionally reach a potential abuser.”