Standing up for our shared values during the 2017 Legislative Session
Last Monday, I was sworn in to serve the constituents of the 21st district for my second term. I know that there are many challenges facing the Legislature this session, and I look forward to the opportunities these challenges present to make positive changes for friends and neighbors in our district and around the state.
The time has come for the Legislature to make the hard decisions necessary to fully fund basic education as required by the state Constitution. But that is not the only issue we need to focus on this year; we also need to continue looking out for all people in Washington state.
As Speaker of the House Frank Chopp said during his opening remarks on Monday, “Our constitutional duty is to fund our students who are learning. Our moral imperative is to care for our people who are suffering.”
The task in front of the Legislature is not an easy one, but I am here and ready to stand up for our children, our families, and our neighbors in urban and rural areas, and make sure that our shared values as Washingtonians are upheld.
When it comes to prescription drugs, safe disposal means safer communities
Washington state is in the midst of an opioid epidemic. According to the Department of Health, more than 700 opioid overdose deaths occurred in 2015. Of those, more than 400 involved prescription drugs. Prescription opiates are among the most commonly abused drugs and as reported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, youth who misuse prescription medications are more likely to report use of other drugs as well.
A majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. Over 6 million opioid prescriptions are dispensed each year in Washington. When those prescriptions accumulate in homes and sit unused and expired, the risk of drug abuse, overdoses and preventable poisonings increases.
On the first day of session, I introduced a bill to create a safe system for the collection and disposal of unneeded medications. The Drug Take-Back Act will require manufacturers selling drugs in or into Washington establish a safe drug disposal program that is secure, convenient and operational on a year-round basis.
There is no one policy that will single-handedly end addiction in our communities, but the Drug Take-Back Act will help keep Washington communities safer by limiting access to often-abused prescription medications.
As always, I welcome your comments and ideas! Don’t hesitate to contact me or schedule a visit to come down to Olympia. Please contact my office to make an appointment or for information on visiting the Capitol.
Sincerely,
Rep. Strom Peterson