WHEREAS,
6.5 million Americans abuse prescription drugs, especially opioid painkillers; more Americans abuse prescription drugs than abuse cocaine, heroin, and hallucinogens combined. Drug overdose is now the leading cause of injury-related death in the country. Pennsylvania has the 9th-highest rate of drug overdose deaths in the country
; and
WHEREAS, Strong connections have been made between the over-prescription of opioid painkillers and the growing number of individuals who abuse heroin; and
WHEREAS, Individuals
who abuse prescription drugs most often obtain them from family and friends, including from home medicine cabinets
; and
WHEREAS, Flushing unused medicine down the toilet or throwing it in the trash can be potential safety and health hazards.
Prescription drugs that are improperly disposed contaminate the environment and have polluted water sources in at least 30 states
; and
WHEREAS,
The United States Congress, in an effort to encourage citizens to take preventative action, passed the Safe and Secure Drug Disposal Act of 2010, allowing prescription drug users to dispose of controlled substance medications by delivering them to entities authorized by the U.S. Attorney General
; and
WHEREAS,
On September 25, 2010, the National Drug Enforcement Administration conducted its first National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day to promote safe disposal of prescription drugs and increase awareness about the dangers of drug abuse
.
In the five years since, the DEA has collected and destroyed 5.5 million pounds, or 2,762 tons, of unused prescription drugs
; and
WHEREAS, The introduction of the National Take-Back Initiative has been successful in large part due to the outreach efforts of Bernie and Beverly Strain. The Strains tragically lost their 18 year-old son Timothy due to a fatal overdose from pain medication which had not been prescribed to him but was given to him by his girlfriend’s mother. Timothy was already using properly prescribed pain medication after his hands were badly burned in a lawn mower accident. Thanks in large part to the Strains’ efforts to prevent future tragedies, Philadelphia will now have at least one safe drug disposal box in every police district so that individuals can properly dispose of unused prescription drugs at a local police station; and
WHEREAS,
On April 30, 2016, the National Drug Enforcement Administration will conduct its 11th National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day in conjunction with over 5,000 sites nationwide who have joined the effort to prevent pill abuse
; and
WHEREAS,
Twenty-five sites in every corner of the City of Philadelphia will participate in the 11th National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, giving Philadelphians an opportunity to dispose of unneeded, unused, or expired pharmaceuticals free of charge with no questions asked. To find the site nearest to them, citizens can visit www.dea.gov and click on the “Got Drugs?” icon to enter their zip code, or they can call 800-882-9539, now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby encourage all Philadelphians to participate in the 11th National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on April 30, 2016 as a means of preventing prescription drug abuse.
RESOLVED FURTHER, That
an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Bernie and Beverly Strain, evidencing the sincere admiration and respect of this legislative body.
End