Senate Resolution No. 577

BY: Senator RIVERA

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor
Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim April 24, 2021, as
Prescription Drug Take-Back Day in the State of New
York

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize
official days that are set aside to increase awareness of serious
concerns that affect the lives of citizens of New York State; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, it is the sense of this Legislative Body to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim Saturday, April 24,
2021, as Prescription Drug Take-Back Day in the State of New York, in
conjunction with the observance of National Prescription Drug Take-Back
Day; and

WHEREAS, National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day was initiated in
2010 by the United States Department of Justice Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA) in an attempt to rid homes of accumulated unwanted,
unused or expired prescription drugs in a safe and convenient way, while
educating the general public about the potential for abuse of
medications; and

WHEREAS, Unwanted, unused or expired medications that languish in
home medicine cabinets or medications that are not disposed of properly
are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse; and

WHEREAS, According to the DEA, a majority of abused prescription
drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home
medicine cabinet; and

WHEREAS, Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are
alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and
overdoses due to these drugs; and

WHEREAS, Among teenagers in the United States, prescription and
over-the-counter medications are the most commonly abused drugs after
marijuana; almost 60% of 12th graders who misused prescription narcotic
medications said they were given to them by a friend or relative; and

WHEREAS, The proper way to dispose of drugs is to take the
medications to a scheduled collection event or take them to a drop box
location; Prescription Drug Take-Back Day promotes drug abuse prevention
and public safety by providing communities with an environmentally-safe,
"no-questions asked" location to turn in prescription drugs that are no
longer needed or are expired; and

WHEREAS, During the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day held in
April of 2019, Americans turned in 468.72 tons of prescription drugs at
more than 6,200 sites operated by the DEA and more than 4,900 of its
state and local law enforcement partners; and

WHEREAS, Since the inaugural National Prescription Drug Take-Back
Day in 2010, the DEA and its partners have collected more than 5.5
million pounds of prescription drugs or approximately 2,750 tons of
pills; and

WHEREAS, Unused medications which are flushed down the toilet or
poured down the sink can also harm our water bodies and impact aquatic
life when they enter the water supply; low levels of various drugs have
been found in lakes, rivers and streams, causing harm to fish and other
wildlife; there is also concern that drug-resistant bacteria may develop
because of long-term exposure to low levels of antibiotics; and

WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater public awareness of
this serious issue, and more must be done to increase knowledge and
attentiveness at both the State and local levels to protect both the
environment and the citizens of the State of New York; now, therefore,
be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim April 24, 2021, as
Prescription Drug Take-Back Day in the State of New York; and be it
further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of
New York.