The Drug Enforcement Administration hasn’t implemented Klobuchar’s bipartisan legislation that she passed to expand drug take back programs, depriving Americans of options to safely dispose of unused medications and stalling key efforts to fight abuse 

Prescription drugs are a dangerous gateway to even deadlier forms of addiction and abuse, with as many as four out of five heroin users having previously abused prescription drugs, according to the Office of National Drug Control Policy 

Washington, D.C. –U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) took to the floor of the U.S. Senate to press the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for immediate action to implement her law to help fight prescription drug abuse and combat the growing heroin epidemic. Despite being signed into law in 2010, the DEA hasn’t implemented Klobuchar’s bipartisan legislation that she passed to expand drug take back programs, depriving Americans of options to safely dispose of unused medications and stalling key efforts to fight abuse. Prescription drugs are a dangerous gateway to even deadlier forms of addiction and abuse, with as many as four out of five heroin users having previously abused prescription drugs, according to the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP).

“Prescription drug abuse has reached crisis levels and is leading to a spike in heroin abuse as well, and we should spare no effort to reverse this deadly trend,” Klobuchar said. “My drug take back law will help keep drugs out of the wrong hands and prevent prescription drug abuse as well as heroin abuse. The Administration needs to implement this common sense law so that we can give families new tools to help fight this devastating epidemic.”

In the last 4 years, over 3.4 million pounds of prescription drugs have been collected across the country during designated prescription drug take-back days. The Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010  takes these efforts to the next level by providing consumers with more safe and responsible ways to dispose of unused prescription medications and controlled substances. The law expands options for individuals as well as long-term care facilities, and promotes the development and expansion of prescription drug take-back programs.

For broadcast-quality video of Senator Klobuchar’s floor speech, click here.

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