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8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This joint resolution of the Legislature urges the federal government to create new
11 solutions and adopt new policies allowing the public to dispose of unwanted and
12 outdated prescription drugs.
13 Highlighted Provisions:
14 This resolution:
15 ▸ strongly urges the federal government to support and allow for new creative
16 solutions for the public to more conveniently and regularly dispose of prescribed
17 medications; and
18 ▸ presents a plan to allow a pharmacy to serve as a convenient drop-off repository for
19 prescription drugs such as opioids.
20 Special Clauses:
21 None
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23 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
24 WHEREAS, Utah ranks fourth in the nation for deaths occurring as a result of drug
25 poisoning;
26 WHEREAS, more Utahns die from unintended prescription drug overdoses than from
27 motor vehicle accidents;
28 WHEREAS, since 2010, deaths from prescription opioid overdoses in the state have
29 increased by 26.7%;
30 WHEREAS, every week in Utah, nine people die from drug poisoning, of which six are
31 a direct result of overdosing on prescription opioids;
32 WHEREAS, the illegal use of opioid drugs, especially by young people, is of grave
33 concern because it can lead to a lifetime of addiction or even death;
34 WHEREAS, the Utah Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health provides
35 resources for public education, prevention, and treatment of drug related issues and advises
36 taking unused prescriptions to a permanent collection site or drop-off event;
37 WHEREAS, through the Drug Enforcement Administration, the federal government
38 provides a national prescription drug take-back day;
39 WHEREAS, the national prescription drug take-back day does not serve as a practical,
40 convenient, or consistent means for the public to regularly dispose of outdated and unwanted
41 prescription medications;
42 WHEREAS, the federal government oversees the disposal of opioids, and new creative
43 solutions are needed to make disposal of these drugs more convenient;
44 WHEREAS, currently, the only approved repositories are located inside police
45 department agencies;
46 WHEREAS, permitting pharmacies to serve as a drop-off repository for outdated
47 prescription drugs for the public is a practical, convenient solution that would greatly improve
48 an important public service and assist our efforts to reduce drug addiction and the tragic loss of
49 life among our population;
50 WHEREAS, a pharmacy should be allowed to provide a secure, one-way, locking
51 receptacle, approved by Utah's Department of Public Safety or Department of Health, to
52 provide access to law enforcement officers or health officials on a regular basis for the purpose
53 of removing the contents;
54 WHEREAS, the pharmacy should maintain the receptacle inside the pharmacy in a
55 secure location;
56 WHEREAS, it is not suggested that this repository be federally mandated, but that it be
57 permitted as a public service by the pharmacy:
58 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah
59 strongly urges the federal government to enact new federal policy to allow for more convenient
60 drop-off locations for prescribed opioid drugs to stem the tide of prescription opioid drug
61 overdose.
62 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah strongly urges
63 the federal government to allow pharmacies to serve as a repository for outdated, unused
64 prescriptions by permitting and authorizing a registered and licensed pharmacy in Utah to act
65 as a drop-off repository that accepts old, outdated, or unused controlled substances,
66 pharmaceutical prescription drugs, and other medications in Utah.
67 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the President of
68 the United States, the Director of the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the members of
69 Utah's congressional delegation.
Legislative Review Note
Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel