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Senate adopts resolution urging coordinated disposal of unused prescription drugs
Summary
Senate Concurrent Resolution 2, amended to include language requested by the Utah Medical Association, urges expanded public education and use of drop boxes and disposal resources to reduce prescription-drug misuse; the measure passed the Senate and was placed on the third-reading calendar.
The Senate adopted an amended resolution urging action to reduce misuse of prescription drugs and to improve public education about safe disposal.
Senator Jones introduced Amendment No.1 to SCR2, noting the language had been requested by the Utah Medical Association and by pharmacists to clarify disposal guidance. He said many Utah households retain unused prescription medications and that these stockpiles contribute to criminal diversion and overdose risk. The resolution points residents to a state web resource for disposal information (www.medicatundisposal.utah.gov) and encourages shared responsibility among physicians, pharmacists, insurers, employers, government agencies and consumers.
Senator Greiner noted that several public-health and law-enforcement entities already place drug drop boxes in facilities and praised the resolution. Senator Dayton expressed concern about language that “urges DOPL, as resources permit, to survey doctors, pharmacists and patients,” cautioning that legislatively funded surveys of patients could create unintended consequences; he said he would press to remove those lines on third reading.
The amendment was adopted and the final roll call in the transcript recorded SCR2 as having received 24 yea votes, 3 nay votes and 2 absent; the resolution was placed on the third-reading calendar.
