Bill Text: NJ S2369 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Codifies "Project Medicine Drop" program; requires Division of Consumer Affairs to maintain secure prescription medicine drop-off receptacles at certain law enforcement agencies.*
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-2)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-02-05 - Substituted by A2859 (ACS/1R) [S2369 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-S2369-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator JIM WHELAN
District 2 (Atlantic)
Senator THOMAS H. KEAN, JR.
District 21 (Morris, Somerset and Union)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senators Vitale and Lesniak
SYNOPSIS
Requires Division of Consumer Affairs to install prescription medication receptacles in certain law enforcement locations.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the disposition of unused prescription medication and supplementing Title 24 of the Revised Statues.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public safety shall supply and install in every State Police barracks and county sheriff's department, and every county police department and full-time municipal police department which agrees to participate, a secure prescription medicine drop-off receptacle wherein unused prescription medications may be safely disposed by members of the public. The receptacles shall be available to the public seven days a week.
b. Any police department that does not have a drop-off receptacle on site shall display, in a conspicuous location, notice informing the public where the closest available receptacles are located.
c. The director shall promulgate rules and regulations pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) as may be needed to effectuate the purposes of this act.
2. This act shall take effect on the first day of the sixth month next following enactment, except the director may take any anticipatory administrative action in advance as shall be necessary for the implementation of this act.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the Division of Consumer Affairs to supply and install in every State Police barracks and county sheriff's department, and every county police department and full-time municipal police department which agrees to participate, a secure prescription medicine drop-off receptacle where the public many dispose of unused prescription medications. The receptacles are to be available to the public seven days a week. The bill requires police departments that do not have receptacles on site to post notification advising the public where the closest receptacles are located.
The division has developed a program called "Project Medicine Drop" in an effort to combat the abuse and diversion of prescription drugs. According to the United States Centers for Disease Control, 40 Americans die every day from an overdose caused by prescription painkiller abuse. These overdoses account for more deaths than overdoses of heroin and cocaine combined. Additionally, in June of 2011, following a public hearing outlining the changing dynamics of the criminal drug trade, the State of New Jersey Commission of Investigation (SCI) found that a growing number of young people are abusing prescription drugs, and noted a significant trend in which the practice has led to increases, not only in the number of young people addicted to painkillers, but to the number of young people using heroin as well. The report issued by the SCI in July of 2013, "Scenes from an Epidemic" confirms this finding and notes that addiction often begins with leftover prescription medicines in the home.
"Project Medicine Drop" has expanded so there is presently at least one drop-off location in every county. This bill will expand the program even further to ensure that residents of this State are able to easily access secure drop-boxes within their communities in order to safely dispose of their unused and potentially dangerous medications.
