(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by Assembly
Democrats Timothy Eustace, Daniel Benson, Valerie Vainieri Huttle, Joseph Lagana
and Marlene Caride to provide a safe way for New Jersey residents to dispose of
prescription drugs was released recently by an Assembly panel.
“Disposing of unused prescription
drugs properly is equally as important as taking them as prescribed,” said
Eustace (D-Bergen/Passaic). “Prescription drug abuse is prevalent in many
communities, and much of that abuse begins at home where the drugs are easily
accessible.”
The bill
(A-2859) requires the Division of Consumer Affairs to supply and install a
secure prescription medicine drop-off receptacle where the public many dispose
of unused prescription medications in every state police barracks and county
sheriff’s department and every county police department and full-time municipal
police department which agrees to participate. The receptacles are to be
available to the public seven days a week. Police departments that choose not to
have receptacles on site would be required to post notification advising the
public of where the closest receptacle is located.
In June
of 2011, following a public hearing outlining the changing dynamics of the
criminal drug trade, the State of New Jersey Commission of Investigation (SCI)
found that a growing number of young people are abusing prescription drugs, and
noted that the practice has led to increases not only in the number of young
people addicted to painkillers, but also in the number of young people using
heroin. The report issued by the SCI in July 2013, “Scenes from an Epidemic,”
confirms this finding and notes that addiction often begins with leftover
prescription medicines in the home.
The sponsors proposed the legislation
to encourage residents to throw away unused prescriptions in a safe manner and
help prevent youth access and potential abuse.
“The number of young people
experimenting with and becoming addicted to prescription drugs is rapidly
rising,” said Benson (D-Mercer/Middlesex). “Unfortunately, there are a number of
ways to access these types of drugs, but studies show that in many cases access
begins at home with unsecured prescriptions.”
The
division has developed a program called “Project Medicine Drop” in an effort to
combat the abuse and diversion of prescription drugs.
“Drop-off receptacles will provide a
safe place to throw away prescription drugs and keep them out of the hands of
any people trying to sell the drugs or take them without a prescription,” said
Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen). “This legislation will be a crucial element in our
statewide battle against addiction.”
“Prescription drug abuse kills more
people each day than heroin and cocaine overdoses combined in
America,” said Lagana
(D-Bergen/Passaic). “Unfortunately, addiction to these drugs can have its
origin not on the street corner, but in the medicine cabinet. By giving clear
directions on how to properly dispose of these drugs, we can help stop problems
before they begin.”
“Whether they go into the trash and
unauthorized individuals abuse them or they are flushed down the toilet and into
our waterways, unused prescription drugs are poisons that threaten the wellness
of our communities,” said Caride (D-Bergen/Passaic). “These receptacles will
require minimal cost and effort from law enforcement, but they will go a long
way toward curbing addiction in New
Jersey.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has classified
prescription drug abuse as an epidemic. While there has been a marked decrease
in the use of some illegal drugs like cocaine, data from the Survey on Drug Use
and Health (NSDUH) show that nearly one-third of people aged 12 and over who
used drugs for the first time in 2009 began by using a prescription drug
non-medically.
According to the United States
Centers for Disease Control, 40 Americans die every day from an overdose caused
by prescription painkiller abuse.
“Project Medicine Drop” has expanded
so there is presently at least one drop-off location in every county. This bill
will expand the program even further to ensure that New Jersey residents are
able to access secure drop-boxes within their communities easily and safely
dispose of their unused and potentially dangerous medications.
The measure was released by the
Assembly Appropriations Committee.
