Senator Hassan Cosponsors Bipartisan Legislation to Help Veterans Dispose of Unwanted Medication

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan cosponsored bipartisan legislation to create safe, anonymous, and continuously available drop off centers for veterans to easily dispose of unwanted medications, including opioids.  

“One important way to help veterans who are at risk of substance misuse is to ensure that they have access to a consistent and safe location to dispose of unwanted medications,” Senator Hassan said. “Amid the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, we must not forget about the other public health emergency, the substance misuse crisis, which has devastated communities across our state. I urge the Senate to swiftly pass this bipartisan, common-sense legislation to help prevent veterans from developing substance use disorders.”  

The bipartisan VA Directly Returning Opioid Prescriptions (DROP) Act, introduced by Senators Mike Braun (R-IN) and Todd Young (R-IN), would direct the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to ensure that certain VA medical facilities have physical locations for the disposal of controlled substances.

Senator Hassan is focused on protecting the health and safety of veterans, and recently introduced legislation to ensure that veterans and their representatives have 48 hours to review and dispute disability claims before they are finalized to make sure that veterans don’t lose out on the benefits that they have earned and deserve. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Senator Hassan also urged the VA to strengthen New Hampshire veterans’ access to telehealth. The CARES Act that Senator Hassan worked to pass into law included $2.15 billion in funding to the VA to enhance its ability to provide telehealth services to veterans.

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