Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, chairman of the Judiciary Committee and the Caucus on International Narcotics Control, was among several senators who urged the Drug Enforcement Administration to re-instate a popular take-back program for unused opioids and other prescription drugs. The Drug Enforcement Administration confirmed in a letter to Grassley that it has re-instated the program. Grassley was an original cosponsor of the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010, which became law, and encourages drug take-back efforts. Grassley made the following comment on the re-instatement.
"Iowans turned in literally tons of unused prescription drugs under the program. Getting medicines out of the house, where they can be taken by teen-agers or used beyond the need for the prescription, is important for reducing opioid abuse and addiction. I appreciate the Drug Enforcement Administration's turn-around on this program. The more options we have to reduce the scourge of opioid addiction, the better."
The letter Grassley signed urging a re-instatement of the drug take-back program is available here. The Drug Enforcement Administration's letter to Grassley on the re-instatement is available here. More information on the results of drug take-back days in Iowa is available here and here.
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