A major milestone may be close at hand for the long-running effort to start a producer-funded medication take-back program in the state. Such a program has the potential to reduce the availability and abuse of unused prescription opioids as patients will have a new option to safely dispose of excess or unneeded medications.
We have been told for over a week that the House is close to bringing the bill (HB 1047) up for a vote, and behind the scenes negotiations between Rep. Strom Peterson (D-Edmonds) and the pharmaceutical industry may be bearing fruit.
Now would be a good time to contact your House members and urge their support of this bill. If there is no agreement with the pharmaceutical industry, this will be a very close vote. Your calls could make a real difference.