Klobuchar passed legislation in 2010 to provide consumers with safe and responsible ways to dispose of unused prescription medications and she has introduced bipartisan legislation with other senators to further expand these options; with four out of five heroin users starting out misusing prescription drugs, proper disposal is an important tool to cut down on drug abuse

 

Walgreens announced today that it will install safe medication disposal kiosks in more than 500 drugstores across the country to help combat drug abuse, including in Minnesota

 

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar announced today that Walgreens will be installing safe medication disposal kiosks in their stores to help families get rid of unused prescription drugs. Klobuchar passed legislation in 2010 to provide consumers with safe and responsible ways to dispose of unused prescription medications. With four out of five heroin users starting out misusing prescriptions drugs, proper disposal is an important tool to cut down on drug abuse. Walgreens announced today that it will install safe medication disposal kiosks in more than 500 drugstores across the country, including in Minnesota, to help combat drug abuse. Klobuchar has also introduced the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act with a bipartisan group of lawmakers to build on her previous efforts to help fight drug abuse and give families affected by this epidemic the tools they need to recover.

 

“As a former prosecutor, I have seen first-hand how drug abuse claims lives and tears families apart,” Klobuchar said. “With four out of five heroin users starting out abusing prescription drugs, Walgreens’ decision to give families more options to dispose of their unused medications is an important step in our fight against addiction. Now we must build on this progress by passing the bipartisan Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act to give our communities the tools they need to combat drug abuse.”

 

Klobuchar has long led local and national efforts to curb drug abuse and help people overcome addiction. In September 2014, the DEA implemented Klobuchar’s bipartisan Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act. Under the legislation, consumers are provided with more safe and responsible ways to dispose of unused prescription medications and controlled substances. Last month at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on drug abuse, Klobuchar highlighted the need to pass the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act in order to encourage states and local communities to pursue a fully array of proven strategies to fight against addiction. The bill also includes Klobuchar’s provision to combat drug abuse by enhancing prescription drug monitoring programs.

 

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