[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 77 (Tuesday, June 4, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Page S3957]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. COLLINS (for herself, Mr. Blumenthal, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. 
        Manchin, Ms. Murkowski, and Mr. Boozman):
  S. 1089. A bill to provide for a prescription drug take-back program 
for members of the Armed Forces and veterans, and for other purposes; 
to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the 
Servicemembers and Veterans Prescription Drug Safety Act of 2013, with 
my colleagues Senators Blumenthal, Boxer, Manchin, Murkowski, and 
Boozman. This bill would require the Attorney General to establish drug 
take-back programs in coordination with both the Department of Defense 
and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
  The number of reported suicide deaths in the U.S. military surged to 
a record 349 in 2012, which is more than the number of servicemembers 
who lost their lives in combat while serving our nation in Afghanistan 
during the same period of time. According to the Department of Veterans 
Affairs, the number of suicides among veterans has reached an 
astounding rate of 22 each day based on data collected from more than 
21 states.
  These losses are unacceptable. We are losing dozens of America's 
finest each month, squandering precious talent that our nation needs 
and depriving families of their loved ones. Today's soldiers are 
tomorrow's veterans; their mental health needs must be met now to avoid 
future suicides.
  There is substantial evidence that prescription drug abuse is a major 
factor in military and veteran suicides. In its January 2012 report, 
Army 2020: Generating Health and Discipline in the Force, the Army 
found that 29 percent of suicides involved individuals with a known 
history of psychotropic medication use, including anti-depressants, 
anti-anxiety medicine, anti-psychotics, and other controlled substances 
such as opioids.
  This report recommended the establishment of a military drug take-
back program to help combat prescription drug abuse in the ranks. Given 
that more than 49,000 soldiers were issued three or more psychotropic 
or controlled substance prescriptions last year, and an estimated 3,500 
soldiers illicitly used prescription drugs, it is past time we act on 
this recommendation and implement a military drug take-back program.
  In Afghanistan, we have invested billions of dollars and devoted some 
of the military's best minds to protect our soldiers and give them the 
tools they need to reduce the threat of an improvised explosive devise 
attack. Unfortunately, we have not focused sufficient resources or 
creativity to suicide prevention. While I applaud the military's, and 
especially the Army's, and VA's efforts to address this threat 
seriously, we must do more.
  At present, only the Drug Enforcement Administration, DEA, has the 
inherent authority to conduct a drug take-back program. Three years 
ago, the Congress passed the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act 
of 2010, which provided the Attorney General the flexibility necessary 
to delegate similar authority to other agencies for the collection and 
disposal of controlled substances. Since that time, the Attorney 
General has not sufficiently exercised his existing authority to 
provide this much needed assistance to the Department of Defense and 
the VA. The DEA recently proposed new regulations to expand the options 
available to collect controlled substances for purposes of disposal. 
Unfortunately, the proposed regulations fall short because they fail to 
authorize the Department of Defense or the VA to collect controlled 
substances through appropriate mechanisms.
  DEA has concerns that DOD and VA cannot maintain the same strict 
accountability of drugs to prevent the misuse, abuse, or sales in the 
black market. I am confident, however, that the DOD--the institution 
that has developed and implemented programs for the handling of nuclear 
weapons and classified information--and the VA are capable of 
conducting drug take-back programs with the utmost accountability and 
highest of standards.
  Excluding the DOD and VA from conducting drug take-back programs is 
detrimental to efforts to reduce controlled substance abuse, decrease 
non-medical use of prescription drugs, prevent diversion of controlled 
substances, and limit the possibility for accidental overdose and death 
for our servicemembers and veterans, or their family members. This 
legislation will provide the necessary authority to give both 
departments an effective drug-take back program that will help address 
the scourge of suicide.
  The loss of even one servicemember or veteran to a potentially 
preventable suicide involving controlled substance abuse or misuse is 
unacceptable. I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass this 
important, life-saving legislation.
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