Assemblymember Harry Bronson (D-Rochester, Henrietta, Chili) is encouraging the community to take part in the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Oct. 26, residents are invited to dispose of any unused or unwanted prescription drugs and learn about the issues surrounding prescription drug abuse and its effect on families in the Rochester area and across the nation. “The misuse of controlled substances has become a serious problem, especially among teens and young adults,” Assemblymember Bronson said. “By properly disposing of controlled substances, we can help defeat this growing problem, keeping our community and families safe.” According to data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, nearly one-third of people age 12 and older that use drugs began by using a prescription drug in a non-medical manner. The same survey showed that 70 percent of people who abuse prescription pain relievers obtained them from friends or a relative.¹ In light of these abuses, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) began the National Prescription Drug Take-Back campaign in 2010, with more than 4,000 take-back sites made available across the nation that year.² The Prescription Drug Take-Back drop-off location in Assembly District 138 is: Monroe County Department of Environmental Services
10 Avion Drive Ecopath
Rochester, NY 14624 Additional locations for the Rochester area can be found at http://1.usa.gov/166BgKt. Additionally, Assemblymember Bronson voted for a law authorizing pharmacies to accept unused or unwanted controlled substances (Ch. 343 of 2013). Currently, under DEA regulations, controlled substances can only be surrendered to law enforcement agencies. This new state law will take effect when the DEA amends federal regulations, something Bronson believes should happen. Allowing this law to take effect would help curb misuse and abuse of prescription drugs by providing more locations for people to drop off their unwanted prescriptions, Bronson noted. Bronson also supported legislation that would implement drug disposal demonstration programs (A.5465). The proposed demonstration programs would provide information on the most effective methods of disposal, helping decrease contamination resulting from improper disposal of unused medications in area waterways. Efforts by the Assembly and the National Prescription Drug Take-Back campaign address a vital public safety and public health problem. Since the take-back campaign began, the DEA has seen the disposal of more than 2.8 million pounds of medications at designated drop-off locations.