Ayotte Applauds DEA Reinstatement of Drug Take-Back Days

Press Release

In response to a bipartisan letter sent by U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) and colleagues, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has announced that it is reinstating the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Days program.

"The growing heroin and prescription drug abuse epidemics in New Hampshire and across the country demand action from every level of government, and prescription take-back programs are an important part of reversing this trend," Ayotte said. "National Prescription Drug Take-Back Days allow for a safe, convenient way to dispose of unused, unneeded, or expired medications, and I am pleased the DEA is taking steps to reinstate this successful program."

In its response to the Senators' letter, Peter Kadzik, Assistant Attorney General at the Department of Justice, wrote, "We appreciate the benefit of your feedback and support for [National Take-Back Initiatives]. Having considered your letter, DEA Acting Administrator Chuck Rosenberg announced on July 13, 2015, that DEA has decided to restart this successful initiative."

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), health care providers wrote 259 million prescriptions for opioid painkillers in 2012, the most recent year with data available, amounting to enough for every American adult to have their own bottle of painkillers. Approximately 44 people die every day in this country as a result of prescription opioid overdose and more than 30 people are admitted to an emergency room because of opioid complications. Furthermore, some individuals who become addicted to prescription opioid painkillers may be driven to use illicit substances such as heroin, which have similar neurological effects. According to a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration study, approximately four out of every five new heroin users previously used non-medical prescription pain medication prior to using heroin. Additionally, death from heroin overdose in the U.S. has almost tripled between 2010 and 2013.

The May 20th letter calling for the reinstatement of this program was led by Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) and signed by Ayotte and Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), and Joe Manchin (D-WV).

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