Legislators Advocate to Prevent Prescription Abuse

Several Long Island representatives in the New York State Senate and Assembly recently advocated for legislation that would help combat prescription drug abuse.

“There are more prescription drugs on our streets and in our homes than ever,” Sen. Kemp Hannon, R- Garden City, said. “New York is experiencing an unprecedented fallout from the abuse of prescription drugs, including record numbers of overdoses, suicides, new addictions, and armed pharmacy robberies resulting in casualties.”  

Hannon was joined by Assemblyman Joseph Saladino and other members at a meeting with Attorney General Eric Schneiderman to form a task force to push for legislation like I-STOP and other bills to protect children and communities from the misuse of prescription drug and heroin. The I-STOP legislation would create a real-time database for doctors, pharmacists and medical providers to use in order to stop the free flow and abuse of prescription drugs. 

Hannon also released a white paper report this week titled "The Prescription Drug Abuse Crisis in New York State: A Comprehensive Approach," which details a plan to combat the prescription drug abuse crisis.  Release of the report follows Senate passage of a package of bills designed to curb the black market in prescription painkillers.

“While my goal in issuing this report is to outline a comprehensive solution, I am open to additional ideas, suggestions and comments to develop the most effective plan,” Hannon said.  “There is no quick fix because the flaws in the current system feed into a growing crisis."

Hannon discussed prescription drug abuse at his August 2011 roundtable and held a second discussion this week and the report takes into account feedback from those events.

The Senate also adopted a resolution this week to declare April 28, 2012 Prescription Drug Take-Back Day in New York State to raise awareness about the importance of disposing excess medications.