Representative Trisha Beck – Press Conference
For more information, contact:
Emily Bingham Hollingshead
House Democrats Communications Coordinator
Utah House of Representatives
Ph: 435.590.9961
Fax: 801.326.1539
houseminmedia@utah.gov
http://www.utahhousedemocrats.
Representative Trisha Beck: "Responsible use of RX medication saves lives!"
SALT LAKE CITY, January 25, 2010 — Representative Trisha Beck, D–Salt Lake City, will join with Representative Brad Daw, R–Salt Lake City, and Senator Patricia Jones, D–Holladay to introduce legislation to address the growing misuse and abuse of prescription narcotics in Utah.
Representative Beck has introduced HB 30, which would place cardisoprodol, sold under the brand name Soma, as a Schedule IV drug.
In 2007, Representative Beck's nephew, Denver Daniel Snarr suffered a fatal overdose after being prescribed powerful medications for pain.
"At the time of his passing, we as a family vowed that we would take our pain and do everything in our power to ensure that other families would not need to suffer as we have," said Representative Beck.
"We vowed to promote responsible use of RX pain medications. Hopefully, the passage of these bills will reduce irresponsible use of RX pain medications and save lives," she said.
If Beck's bill is passed by the 2010 Legislature, the drug would be added to Utah's Controlled Substance Database Program, allowing tracking of prescriptions and creating penalties for unlawful possession or distribution of the drug. Refills would be limited to five times within six months.
WHO: Representative Trisha Beck, D–Sandy, Senator Pat Jones, D?Holladay,
Representative Brad Daw, R–Orem, members from the Substance Misuse and Abuse
Reduction Team (SMART) of Utah County, and members of the Pharmaceutical Drug
Crime Project.
WHAT: Press conference and photo op.
WHEN: Tuesday, January 26th 9:30 a.m.
WHERE: Utah Capitol Building, Capitol Board Room
