Sen John Kennedy (R)
Today President Joe Biden has signed Senator Kennedy’s DUMP Opioids act into law. Kennedy said the bill provides individuals who are in possession of opioids a safe and effective way of eliminating them.
“Make it possible for everyone to get rid of the prescription medications they no longer need by dropping them off into secure drop boxes at their local VA centers,” Kennedy said.
The Senate unanimously passed this bill in April and the House unanimously passed the bill early this week. Kennedy said opioid deaths have increased in Louisiana over the past 18 months and his bill is set to help prevent further deaths.
“One of the ways we can fight this crisis is by giving communities a safe way to get the opioids off the street. The purpose of course is so fewer people have the chance to start or feed an opioid addiction,” Kennedy said.
The bill also instructs the VA Secretary to designate times in which individuals can dispose of their prescriptions and permits the secretary to conduct campaigns highlighting when disposal is permitted. Kennedy said he’s thankful that the President and Congress came together to pass the bill adding a new tool in the fight against addiction.
“It hits us every day and I really believe the DUMP Opioids act is going to give everyone an easy way to make our community safer and hopefully healthier,” Kennedy said.
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