"The bipartisan support of HB 1121 comes as a positive step towards preventing the problems associated with having unused prescription drugs around," Rep. Frye stated. "Hoosiers should have a safe option to consider when the need to discard old prescription arises." Rep. Frye's bill would allow pharmacies to participate in a disposal program to accept unused prescription medications, including controlled substances such as prescription painkillers. In a report published by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the use of prescription pain relievers for non-medical uses ranked second as the most common form of drug use in the United States. "With prescription drug abuse as one of the leading forms of drug abuse in the nation, we cannot continue to ignore the detrimental effects unused prescription drugs have," Rep. Frye stated. "Hoosiers will now have an easy-access outlet to dispose of unwanted and unused prescriptions." HB 1121 does not mandate that pharmacies must offer the disposal program for prescription drugs, but would allow the Indiana Board of Pharmacy and other state agencies to establish rules and procedures for pharmacies that want to participate. Lora Reid Williams, a board member on the Indiana Board of Pharmacy, has worked with the legislators and been instrumental in laying the foundation for this legislation. The bill does not require pharmacies to participate in the drug disposal program, however many retailers are eager to implement the program to increase store traffic. |
