National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day

Floor Speech

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Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Saturday, April 30, as National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day.

In the 30 years I served as a community pharmacist before my election to Congress, I saw prescription medications save lives. However, at the same time, I watched people's addiction to those same medications ruin careers, families, and lives.

Today, 44 people in the U.S. die every day from prescription painkillers and overdoses. Overdoses are now the leading cause of accidental death in the U.S., exceeding even car accidents.

Prescription medications have become the target of theft and abuse. It is critical we are all playing our part in combating the prescription drug abuse epidemic by safely disposing of unused medications.

On Saturday, across the country, the DEA will host collection sites where Americans can drop off their pills and other solid, unused prescription drugs. In the First Congressional District of Georgia, I am proud to say that 12 military and law enforcement organizations will be hosting collection sites.

To find a collection site near you, visit www.dea.gov, and click on the ``Got Drugs?'' icon. The service is free, with no questions asked.

Together, we can end this epidemic plaguing our Nation, and I encourage everyone to take part in this event.

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