Pharmacies Allowed to Collect Unused Prescription Painkillers to Help Prevent Prescription Drug Abuse

On Monday, September 8th, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Obama Administration issued new regulations to help prevent prescription drug abuse, which include allowing pharmacies to pick up unused prescription painkillers.

“Every day, this crisis touches — and devastates — the lives of Americans from every state, in every region, and from every background and walk of life,” said US Attorney General Eric Holder. “Through new DEA regulations, patients will be allowed to more easily join the fight against prescription drug abuse by dropping off their leftover medications at pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, and other ‘authorized collectors.’”

The DEA will maintain drug collection receptacles at pharmacies to collect unused prescriptions painkillers, with an eye specifically on opioid painkillers like oxycodone and hydrocodone. According to federal statistics, in 2011, 41,300 people died from drug overdoses, with at least half of those stemming from prescription drug abuse. About 17,000 of the recorded deaths involved opioid painkillers like Vicodin and OxyContin. In 2013, about 6.5 million people in the United States ages 12 and older were considered current non-medical users of prescription drugs.”

“These shocking statistics illustrate that prescription drug addiction and abuse represent nothing less than a public health crisis. And every day, this crisis touches — and devastates — the lives of Americans from every state, in every region, and from every background and walk of life,” Holder said.

Drug addicts can find prescription drugs in many American households, and the DEA has been concerned that keeping such drugs, unused, in the home is a major contributing factor to the ease of prescription drugs’ accessibility for addicts.

“We know that if we remove unused painkillers from the home, we can prevent misuse and dependence from ever taking hold,” said Michael Botticelli, acting Director of National Drug Control Policy.

“Prescription drug misuse and abuse is an urgent — and growing — threat to our nation and its citizens,” Holder added in his video message to the Justice Department.

Drug take-back programs, often hosted by pharmacies, have seen great success in the last several years. Last April, for example, a nationwide prescription drug take-back program at 6,100 sites collected 390 tons of unused prescription drugs. In the past 4 years of hosting take-back programs, the DEA has collected 4.1 million pounds of unused prescription medications.

The DEA will host another nationwide drive on September 27th.

The Strom Law Firm Protects Against Prescription Drug Abuse Charges

Being arrested for prescription drug abuse is something that can be devastating financially and emotionally, and can have long-lasting personal and professional consequences. We understand what you are going through, and we are here to help.

Whether you are charged with:

• Prescribing or writing Illegal prescriptions,
• Doctor Shopping or attempting to obtain drugs by fraud or deceit,
• Illegally possessing prescription drugs,
• Selling prescription drugs, or
• Stealing or Forging Prescriptions for drugs,

Contact the prescription fraud attorneys at the Strom Law Firm, LLC today for a free consultation to discuss the facts of your case. We will investigate your case from every angle, determine whether an illegal search took place and seek to have your charges reduced or even dismissed.