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BEAVERTON, OR – Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) released a new report about priorities she has identified for addressing the opioid crisis. Bonamici also announced new legislation, The Safe Disposal of Opioids Act (HR 5557), to make it easier to dispose of unused medications. The bill will create a grant program to help pharmacies and other qualified locations install and maintain drug disposal bins.
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.
During six months of community discussions about the opioid crisis, U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici heard a recurring theme — the lack of options for someone to safely dispose of excess prescription pain pills after a surgery or illness.
Less than 5 percent of pharmacies, hospitals and other eligible sites in Oregon participate in drug disposal program, according to Bonamici, citing a Government Accountability Office study. Unused pills can be diverted to other family members or friends and misued.
Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced funding for critical priorities for Oregon's coastal communities in the 2018 spending bill released yesterday.
"I fought to make this bill really deliver for Oregon's coastal communities, and it does," Merkley said. "This funding supports core programs, from small ports, to marine research, to coastal salmon recovery."