Slaughter Announces Introduction of Legislation to Tackle Opioid Addiction Epidemic

Press Release

At an event today marking the importance of National Drug Take Back Day, Congresswoman Louise M. Slaughter (NY-25), the only microbiologist in Congress, announced the introduction of The Pharmaceutical Stewardship Act to help address the nation's overwhelming opioid abuse epidemic. The legislation creates a framework for disposing of unused opioids. Over 70 percent of Americans who misuse painkillers obtain them from friends or relatives.

"All across the country, folks are hurting and dying from addiction to opioid drugs. More Americans die every day from drug overdoses than from car crashes, and the majority of those deaths involve legal prescription drugs. This bill would hold the producers of these drugs--the big pharmaceutical companies--accountable for their products' safe disposal," said Congresswoman Slaughter. "I want to thank Supervisor Seeley and Chief Tantalo for joining me today to talk about the importance of National Drug Take Back Day. My bill makes sure people will always have access to a safe place to dispose of unused medications."

"I'm pleased to have this opportunity to recognize the importance of prescription drug take back programs. Irondequoit is safer as a result of these efforts and I thank Congresswoman Slaughter for working to bring these programs to more communities throughout the area," said Irondequoit Supervisor Dave Seeley.

"Drug take back day is an important part of our community's efforts to combat prescription drug abuse. I'm happy to be working with Congresswoman Slaughter to highlight the program we run here so that people know there is a safe and convenient way to dispose of leftover medications before they fall into the hands of someone who shouldn't have them," said Police Chief Richard Tantalo.

Slaughter announced the introduction of this bill at an event in Rochester with Irondequoit Supervisor Dave Seeley and Police Chief Richard Tantalo highlighting the importance of National Drug Take Back Day, which provides a safe, convenient, and responsible way to dispose prescription medication. For details on drop off locations, visit louise.House.gov/opioids.

New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that opioids--a class of drugs that include prescription pain medications and heroin--contributed to 28,648 deaths in 2014. And between 2002 and 2013, the number of heroin-related deaths in America nearly quadrupled.

The Pharmaceutical Stewardship Act (PSA) would provide Americans with a convenient way to safely dispose of their pharmaceuticals that ensures extra pills are kept out of the hands of children, teenagers, or criminals, and don't end up in our water supply. The legislation requires that the program is financed by pharmaceutical producers and mandates that drugs are to be collected and disposed of at the locations where prescription medications are dispensed.

This bill is one part of Slaughter's strategy to fight the opioid addiction epidemic. Last month, she joined with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) to introduce the Preventing Overprescribing for Pain Act to require the CDC to issue guidelines for the safe prescribing of opioids for the treatment of acute pain. The CDC is currently only focused on guidelines for opioids prescribed to treat chronic pain. However, many individuals become addicted to opioids after taking prescriptions for acute pain. Acute pain includes pain following a broken bone, wisdom tooth extraction, or other surgeries, whereas chronic pain is long-term pain that can last weeks, months, or years.

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