Senator Phillips Co-Sponsors Bill To Establish Statewide Drug Takeback Program

Senator Elaine Phillips recently announced that she is co-sponsoring legislation that will establish a statewide take-back program for the safe disposal of drugs.

“Pharmaceutical companies are making big profits off products that potentially impact our state two-fold, first by adding to our state’s growing drug and heroin epidemic and secondly, threatening our already fragile water supply,” Senator Elaine Phillips said. “I am proud to sponsor this measure that will hold companies accountable in preventing misuse of the products they produce.”

The bill (S.7354), also known as the Drug Take Back Act, would establish an industry-funded, statewide pharmaceutical drug take-back program.

“Countless families continue to be destroyed with the growing opioid epidemic,” Senator Phillips said. “It has been well documented that the first supply of opioids is often leftover medication a family member did not use. To cut off the supply, we must provide the option of a take-back program making the disposal of these drugs more prominent and accessible.”

This measure will also help protect Long Island’s fragile water supplies by preventing people from disposing of drugs down drains and directly into valuable water sources.

Senator Phillips also reminded residents they do not need to wait for legislation to pass to be pro-active about safely disposing of unused medications.

Many local police precincts have secure drop boxes where you can safely dispose of old medications.  The Nassau County Police stations in Williston Park, Manhasset and Elmont each have disposal boxes where you can drop off medications 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  Village police departments in Port Washington, Old Westbury and Floral Park also collect unwanted drugs for safe disposal.

Starting in April, Senator Phillips also announced to residents that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will be instituting a temporary $2 million Pilot Pharmaceutical Take-Back Program. Under the program, DEC will purchase medication collection boxes and pay for the disposal of waste pharmaceuticals collected by participating facilities for a two-year period.

For more information on the program, including drop office locations planned near you, visit www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/67720.html.

Senator Phillips also plans to continue hosting her “Shed the Meds” events later this year. Last April, in partnership in partnership with the Manhasset Community Coalition Against Substance Abuse (CASA) and the Nassau County Police Department, over 200 residents came to her “Shed the Meds” event and safely disposed of thousands of pain pills, antibiotics and other types of medications, all of which were taken by the police for safe disposal.