PRINTER'S NO. 3146
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
803
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY DEAN, READSHAW, COHEN, DiGIROLAMO, NEUMAN, DUSH,
SONNEY, WHEELAND, R. BROWN, FARINA, BAKER, STURLA, DAVIS,
SCHLOSSBERG, SCHREIBER, MACKENZIE, D. COSTA, ROZZI, KIRKLAND,
LONGIETTI, BOBACK, MARSICO, ACOSTA, HENNESSEY, VITALI, MURT,
V. BROWN, MILLARD, HELM, MILNE, McNEILL, MAHONEY, DeLUCA,
MUSTIO, PHILLIPS-HILL, O'BRIEN, WATSON, W. KELLER, ROSS,
TOEPEL, KINSEY, EVERETT AND MAJOR, APRIL 11, 2016
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
APRIL 11, 2016
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing April 30, 2016, as "National Prescription Drug Take-
Back Day" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, On April 30, 2016, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the
United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will provide
the public with a free and anonymous opportunity to safely rid
their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and
unwanted prescription drugs; and
WHEREAS, The DEA, along with local agencies, began holding
"National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day" in 2010, and it has
proven so successful that it has grown into a semiannual event;
and
WHEREAS, During the most recent "National Prescription Drug
Take-Back Day" held in September 2015, Americans turned in 350
tons of prescription drugs at more than 5,000 sites operated by
the DEA and more than 3,800 of its state and local law
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enforcement partners; and
WHEREAS, Since the inaugural "National Prescription Drug
Take-Back Day" in 2010, the DEA and its partners have collected
more than 5.5 million pounds of prescription drugs or
approximately 2,750 tons of pills; and
WHEREAS, This initiative addresses a vital public safety and
public health issue; and
WHEREAS, Unwanted, unused or expired medications that
languish in home medicine cabinets or medications that are not
disposed of properly are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse
and abuse; and
WHEREAS, Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United
States are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental
poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs; and
WHEREAS, According to the American Society of Addiction
Medicine (ASAM), four out of five new heroin users started out
misusing prescription medications; and
WHEREAS, ASAM reports that as a result, the rate of heroin
overdose deaths nearly quadrupled from 2000 to 2013; and
WHEREAS, According to the DEA, a majority of abused
prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends,
including from the home medicine cabinet; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize April
30, 2016, as "National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day" in
Pennsylvania.
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