Lawmakers Propose New Legislation to Prevent Opiate Overdoses

Opiate overdoses are pushing lawmakers to act fast with new legislation.

Just in the past month, eight people have died in Minnesota from heroin overdoses including one in Moorhead.
 
The recent rash of overdoses has prompted Republican State Representative Bob Barrett of Taylor Falls to push for a bill to let pharmacies take back and destroy unwanted prescription drugs.

Clay County law enforcement agencies currently have prescription drop off boxes available where people can put any extra pills in a locked box.

Sheriff Bill Bergquist supports the legislation.

He says prescription drug theft has been on the rise.
 
“We have gotten many calls of people that have said that there’s somebody that had gotten into their house and stole their medications or whatever it is so it does happen and it’s quite common,” says Clay County Sheriff, Bill Bergquist.

Bergquist says more young teens are starting to use prescription pills and reminds all families to properly dispose of their medications.

Bergquist hopes this new legislation will keep drugs out of the hands of people selling and stealing.