Rockland Pharmacies Must Take back Unused Prescription Medication

Rockland County Executive Ed Day recently signed into law a bill that requires pharmacies to take back unused prescription medication.

"We want to make it as easy as possible for Rockland residents to get rid of unused prescription medication in a safe and responsible way," the County Executive said. "This law will help them do that."

He signed the bill at the Lexington Recovery Center, a mental health treatment organization that helps people with drug and alcohol addictions – including addiction to opioids.

"There is an epidemic of opioid abuse in this county, in this state, in this nation," the County Executive said. "We don't think it will happen in our family. We never think that those pills that the doctor prescribed for a mom or dad following surgery a couple years ago are could be misused."

Many mental health professionals spoke in favor of the legislation.

"This law will save lives," said Adrienne Marcus, executive director of Lexington, who appeared with the County Executive as he signed the legislation.

The County Executive was also accompanied by Michael Leitzes, chairman of the Rockland Department of Mental Health; Ann Calajoe, director of chemical dependency services, Rockland Department of Mental Health and Barbara Tabala, director of Rockland County programming for Lexington.

The proposal was introduced by Legislator Lon Hofstein. It was co-sponsored by Legislators Christopher Carey, Charles Falciglia, Douglas Jobson, Patrick Moroney, Laurie Santulli, Ilan Schoenberger, Philip Soskin, Vincent Tyer and Aron Weider and passed by a unanimous vote.

The measure requires pharmacies that have three or more locations to take back these drugs and safely dispose of them.

"Rockland is once again ahead of the curve on this issue," Legislator Hofstein said. I am proud to have sponsored this legislation, which is good for our water, good for our environment, and, most importantly, good for our children."

Under the new law, pharmacies have to file a plan of action to meet the requirement by April 1.