Senator Amy Klobuchar

Working for the People of Minnesota

Press Contact

Joel Gross
Press Secretary
(202) 224-3244

Amy in the News

Sen. Klobuchar: Prescription Drugs are a Problem

ABC 6 NEWS

September 8, 2010

Senator Amy Klobuchar came to southeast Minnesota to talk about a drug problem that's plaguing many parts of the state, but the drugs Klobuchar is talking about could be in your very own medicine cabinet.

"What we're here today to talk about is a drug problem," said Klobuchar, and that problem is prescription medication.

"Whether it's theft, whether it's forgeries, illegal prescription drug sales, I'm kept very, very busy," said Officer Tracy Nepper, a Narcotics Investigator with the Rochester Police Department.

"Prescription drug abuse is on the rise. It is estimated that each day 25 ,12-17 year-olds abuse a prescription pain killer for the first time," said Klobuchar.

More than half of the teenagers surveyed by the Partnership for a Drug Free America say those drugs are easy to get.

"Families can accidentally enable such abuse by keeping unused prescription drug medication on their shelves," said Klobuchar.

She says roughly seventeen percent of all prescription medication goes unused, but disposing of those meds presents a problem.

"Currently in Minnesota, pharmacies and drug collection sites cannot accept controlled substances," said Toby Pearson, a long-term Care Provider.

"So you can see this is a problem," said Klobuchar.

That's why Klobuchar has introduced legislation to change that.

The Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act would allow each state's Attorney General to regulate the drug take-back programs and allow them to operate without the full-time law enforcement supervision which is currently required by law.

"They could be run by a drug store, they could be run by a long-term care facility and they obviously can be run by law enforcement," said Klobuchar.

Meaning, take-back programs could become more widespread, getting more drugs out of our cabinets, out of our water supply, and out of the hands of children.

"I see nothing but benefits coming from this bill," said Nepper.

The bill has already passed through the Senate and is waiting for approval in the House.

Forty-one state Attorneys General have also expressed their approval for the bill.

Senator Klobuchar’s Offices

302 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Main Line: 202-224-3244
Main Fax: 202-228-2186
Toll Free: 1-888-224-9043

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Minneapolis, MN 55415
Main Line: 612-727-5220
Main Fax: 612-727-5223
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Rochester, MN 55901
Main Line: 507-288-5321
Fax: 507-288-2922

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Moorhead, MN 56560
Main Line: 218-287-2219
Fax: 218-287-2930

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820 9th Street North
Virginia, MN 55792
Main Line: 218-741-9690
Fax: 218-741-3692