releases: https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=a8d2c8a9-3934-4066-a3c4-734390327677
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
This data as json
| url | title | date | year | month | party | chamber | state | member_name | bioguide_id | domain | scraper | source | date_source | text | has_text | collected_at | updated_at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=a8d2c8a9-3934-4066-a3c4-734390327677 | Heitkamp Encourages North Dakotans to Participate in Drug Take-Back Day on September 27 | 2014-09-26 | 2014 | 2014-09 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | MINOT, N.D. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today urged North Dakotans across the state to properly dispose of unwanted or expired prescription drugs during National Drug Take-Back Day on September 27. In an effort to curb the rise of prescription drug abuse across the country, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will collect unused and unneeded medicine at various locations across North Dakota from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. local time on Saturday, September 27. This is an opportunity for North Dakotans to clean out their medicine cabinets and safely get rid of potentially dangerous, expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. Starting in October 2014, expanded access to disposal locations will be available year-round. Under the new regulation, pharmacies, including those located in hospitals and clinics, and other authorized locations will be able to collect unused prescription drugs on site and also through an authorized mail-in option. Last fall, Heitkamp pressed the DEA to finalize the regulations governing this expanded access, citing take-back activities as a key tool in preventing prescription drug abuse. Prescription drug abuse is a rapidly growing problem across North Dakota, said Heitkamp. Nationally, each year, more deaths are caused by drug overdose than by car crashes. Its a devastating epidemic that is tearing apart families and communities. But luckily, North Dakotans can help in this fight. More than half of prescription drugs are obtained through friends or family usually without them knowing. I encourage all North Dakotans to participate in Drug Take-Back Day to safely get rid of their unused or unneeded medication and help prevent future abuse. And soon drug disposal sites will be available year round. Take-back event drop-offs are anonymous and no questions are asked. To find the closest participating locations in North Dakota, please click here and enter your zip code. Since joining the Senate, Heitkamp has been leading the fight against crime and drug crime in North Dakota. Last month, she joined the White House Drug Czar in Minot to announce a new national strategy to combat drug crime and trafficking across the country, with a particular focus on addressing the growing drug problems in North Dakota. The new strategy continues a strong commitment made by the former Drug Czar Gil Kerlikowske when Heitkamp brought him to North Dakota in July 2013 to combat drug crime and abuse in North Dakota, especially in the Bakken. During that visit, Heitkamp and Kerlikowske spoke with local law enforcement and tribal officials about the major increase in drug crimes in the oil patch which are spreading to other areas. Just four months after that visit, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy announced aseries of steps to help reduce drug crime and abuse in the Bakken, including naming Williams County as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, making it eligible for more federal funds to combat this problem. In January, Heitkamp welcomed news that a special prosecutor will be placed in western North Dakota to help fight drug-related crimes in the states oil patch. She also brought together leaders from the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa in March to address the unique drug abuse and trafficking challenges Indian Country is facing. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |