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Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici introduces new legislation to help in the opioid crisis

April 23, 2018

BEAVERTON, Ore. – Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici was in Beaverton to present her new legislation to create more disposal bins for unused prescription medication.

The Congresswoman has spent the last six months visiting with constituents, law enforcement officials, addicts in recovery, and many others to understand the scope of the opioid crisis here in Oregon. She has been looking for something that can be done now, and something that would hold the drug manufacturers accountable.

She's just introduced new legislation called "The Safe Disposal of Opioids Act." The bill would create a grant program funding the creation and maintenance of more prescription drug disposal bins across the country.

It's something she says is lacking right now and contributing to the beginnings of addiction.

"We need more safe places for people to get rid of these drugs so kids, friends, family, people breaking into homes don't take those medications and get addicted," said Bonamici.

Her recent community discussions also lead her to learn that there aren't enough beds in treatment programs. She also learned that the amounts of pills being prescribed are overwhelming.

"In Oregon in 2016, if you took the total number of pills prescribed, everybody in the state, including men, women and children would have received 55 pills. We know that's too many pills in our community and it's because people don't know what to do with them when they don't use them," she said.

She believes this legislation will fill a gap in the system by getting rid of a lot of those extra pills that sit in people's medicine cabinets and bathroom drawers. She's determined to get bi-partisan support for the bill, and work further on the other issues surrounding the opioid crisis like treatment and prescriptions.

Issues:Health Care