Young Encourages Hoosiers to Participate in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

WASHINGTON –To mark the one-year anniversary of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act being signed into law, U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) is highlighting progress in the fight against opioid addiction and encouraging Hoosiers to take part in the 18th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, October 26, 2019. Local collection sites can be found here. 

The bipartisan SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act authorized funding for states to continue fighting the opioid epidemic; provided more authority for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to research, develop, and bring to market non-addictive, non-opioid alternatives; and helped the U.S. Postal Service stop illegal drug shipments at the border. According to the Centers for Disease Control, Indiana has seen a 7.4 percent decrease in opioid-related deaths from 2018-2019.

“I was proud to have six of my bills included in SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, and we’ve seen these provisions already making a difference in Indiana,” said Senator Young.“Since most abused drugs are obtained from the home medicine cabinet, one thing all Hoosiers can do to help combat this scourge is visit their local collection site this Saturday to dispose of unused or unwanted prescription medications as part of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.”

This week, Senator Young heard from fellow Hoosier, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams, and other experts on how to help Hoosiers impacted by the opioid epidemic. Earlier this year, Senator Young released a video following a visit to the Greenfield Fire Station where he heard from the Fire Chief and first responders who are on the front lines of the opioid crisis.