The misuse of controlled substances is a serious public health problem in our state of Pennsylvania. The rate of misusing prescription medications such as painkillers and other opioids has risen, with many individuals able to acquire them with ease from a friend’s or family member’s medicine cabinet. In recent years, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) authorized pharmacies to establish collection sites for controlled substances. We should be doing all that we can to support this initiative.

It is for this reason that I plan to introduce a bill package that seeks to educate pharmacies of this option afforded to them by federal regulation to establish collection sites. My legislation will create a new requirement for the State Board of Pharmacy to encourage and recommend this program, as well as establish a support fund within the Department of State to bolster the Board’s efforts. Pharmacies are safe and convenient locations for the disposal of unused prescription medications, and many individuals are likely to be more comfortable using a pharmacy rather than a law enforcement facility as a collection site.

As some of the most trusted and most widely accessible health resources – and dispensers of prescription medications - our pharmacies are often on the front lines of the Commonwealth’s opioid crisis. By educating pharmacies on the option to aid Pennsylvanians with safely and responsibly disposing of their unwanted or expired medications, we can further prevent the misuse and diversion of prescription drugs.

Please join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation. Together, we can ensure every resident has access to a collection site and reduce the number of opioids in our communities.

Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 0775: P.L.177, No.175
Printer's No. 1592: P.L.177, No.175
Printer's No. 1720: P.L.177, No.175