House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

In the near future, I plan to reintroduce HB 2198 from the 2015-2016 legislative session. This legislation amends the Pharmacy Act to allow for the collection and disposal of drugs by pharmacies.

The abuse of prescription drugs is a serious social and health problem in the United States. Drug overdose has become the leading cause of accidental death in the nation. Many abusers are acquiring controlled substances from other people's medicine cabinets. We can prevent unused, excess medications from falling into the wrong hands by working with the public to promote proper disposal practices.

In 2014, the Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration finalized regulations expanding collection sites for controlled substances to include not only law enforcement, but certain registrants such as pharmacies. This is important because many individuals feel more comfortable using a pharmacy rather than a law enforcement facility as a collection site. Pharmacies are safe and convenient locations for the disposal of unused controlled substances; therefore they should have the opportunity to provide this important service to their communities.

Since this change in policy, other states have introduced and implemented changes to their laws and regulation allowing voluntary private pharmacy take-back programs. If you believe, like I do, that Pennsylvania should be among them, please join me in co-sponsoring this legislation. Thank you in advance for your consideration.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact my Harrisburg office at 717-705-1925.

Previous co-sponsors: ACOSTA, ROZZI, O'BRIEN, D. COSTA, ENGLISH, GIBBONS AND DONATUCCI