Title: Expressing the sense of Congress that governmental entities should use a portion of the proceeds from litigation against opioid manufacturers and distributors to increase participation in drug take back programs and for the safe disposal of collected, unused medicines.
Policy area: Health

Summary:
This concurrent resolution expresses the sense of Congress that government entities should consider using a portion of proceeds from litigation against opioid manufacturers and distributors for drug take-back programs.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 42 Introduced in House (IH)]

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117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 42

Expressing the sense of Congress that governmental entities should use 
a portion of the proceeds from litigation against opioid manufacturers 
 and distributors to increase participation in drug take back programs 
       and for the safe disposal of collected, unused medicines.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 21, 2021

   Mr. McKinley (for himself and Mr. Trone) submitted the following 
 concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy 
                              and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of Congress that governmental entities should use 
a portion of the proceeds from litigation against opioid manufacturers 
 and distributors to increase participation in drug take back programs 
       and for the safe disposal of collected, unused medicines.

Whereas according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 9.7 million 
        people used prescription pain relievers other than as indicated, 4.9 
        million people used prescription stimulants other than as indicated, and 
        5.9 million people used prescription tranquilizers or sedatives other 
        than as indicated in 2019;
Whereas according to data released from the National Center for Health 
        Statistics of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on July 14, 
        2021, the United States has seen an increase in overdose deaths during 
        the COVID-19 pandemic with over 93,000 Americans dying in 2020, an 
        increase of nearly 30 percent from 2019, the most ever recorded in a 12-
        month period;
Whereas studies indicate a majority of prescription drugs used other than as 
        indicated come from family and friends, including from home medicine 
        cabinets, and that safely clearing out unused medicine from home 
        medicine cabinets is an essential component in addressing the opioid 
        crisis;
Whereas a safe system for the collection and disposal of unused, unwanted, and 
        expired medicines is a key element of a comprehensive strategy to 
        prevent the use of prescription drugs other than as indicated, but 
        disposing of medicines by flushing them down the toilet or placing them 
        in the garbage can contaminate ground water and other bodies of water, 
        contributing to long-term harm to the environment and animal life;
Whereas the Drug Enforcement Administration, along with its law enforcement 
        partners, has successfully collected 14,524,391 pounds of unused 
        medications since the inception of the National Prescription Drug Take 
        Back Initiative in 2010;
Whereas the Drug Enforcement Administration collected 839,543 pounds (or 419.7 
        tons) of unused, expired, and unwanted medications across the country on 
        National Prescription Drug Take Back Day in April 2021;
Whereas despite the success of such programs sponsored by the Drug Enforcement 
        Administration, in 2017, a report by the Comptroller General of the 
        United States found that only about 3 percent of pharmacies and other 
        entities eligible to collect unused prescription drugs for disposal have 
        volunteered to do so, citing the costs associated with maintaining a 
        disposal bin as reasons for reduced participation in such programs, 
        including purchasing and installing the bin (and disposing the contents 
        of the bin) in accordance with the requirements of the Drug Enforcement 
        Administration;
Whereas according to a more recent report by the Association of State and 
        Territorial Health Officials, between 5 and 15 percent of consumers 
        participate in take back programs, and the costs of transporting the 
        collected drugs to incinerating facilities sometimes poses challenges 
        for localities and States; and
Whereas thousands of lawsuits have been filed by States, counties, and 
        municipalities against drug makers and distributors to recover costs 
        associated with the opioid epidemic: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of the Congress that governmental entities that 
receive proceeds from litigation against opioid manufacturers and 
distributors, should consider, as a proven and effective way to address 
the opioid crisis, using a reasonable portion of these proceeds to 
increase awareness of the importance of drug take back programs, 
increasing the number of locations offering drug take back kiosks, 
increasing consumer participation in these programs, and lower the 
costs of disposal and transportation of unused medications collected at 
participating collection locations.
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