LANGHORNE, PA - Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-08), a certified emergency medical technician (EMT) and vice-chair of the Bipartisan Heroin Task Force, is urging Bucks and Montgomery County residents to help safely dispose of unused and expired prescription medicines to keep them out of the wrong hands. 

On Saturday, April 28 from 10am -2pm individuals can drop off items at locations around the PA-08. A list of community sites can be found at https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/prescription-drop-boxes  or by visiting https://takebackday.dea.gov/

“Nearly 70% of people who abuse prescription pain relievers get them from their friends or family. As our community continues to grapple with the devastating effects of the opioid epidemic, it is crucial we take every step possible to stop prescription medication from falling into the wrong hands,” said Fitzpatrick. “Our community has collected literally tons of unused medications – among the most in Pennsylvania. I’m proud that local governments, law enforcement and community leaders in our district continue to step up to provide this service and do their part to combat the drug abuse crisis.”

Fitzpatrick is the author of several pieces of bipartisan legislation aimed at combating the opioid and drug abuse epidemic, including:

• INTERDICT Act [H.R. 2142] – Signed into law in 2017, this measure provides U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) the latest in chemical screening devices and scientific support to detect and intercept fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. 

• Road to Recovery Act [H.R. 2938] - legislation eliminating the Medicaid Institutions for Mental Diseases (IMD) exclusion for substance use disorder and help states expand access to inpatient treatment for Medicaid enrollees. 

• Synthetics Trafficking and Overdose Protection (STOP) Act [H.R. 1057] – legislation designed to help stop dangerous drugs like fentanyl and carfentanil from being shipped through our borders to drug traffickers here in the United States.

• Monitoring and Obtaining Needed Information to Track Opioids Responsibly (MONITOR) Act [H.R. 4236] - provides for baseline requirements that urge states to utilize and maximize the use of Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs) to track controlled-substance purchases and crack down on ‘doctor shopping.’

• Restoring Enforcement Standards to Track Opioids Responsively and Effectively (RESTORE) Act of 2017 [H.R. 4079] - repeals the Ensuring Patient Access and Effective Drug Enforcement Act of 2016 – a law DEA Chief Administrative Law Judge John J. Mulrooney II described in the Marquette Law Review editorial board as “impos[ing] a dramatic diminution of the agency’s authority… at a time when, by all accounts, opioid abuse, addiction and deaths were increasing markedly.”