In late May, Gov. Jared Polis signed Senate Bill 25-289 into law which establishes Colorado’s drug donation program, a revolutionary new law that will let people donate their unused and unopened prescription drugs so that other patients can access them for free or a minimal cost. Dr. Gina Moore, Senior Associate Dean for Operations and Regulatory Affairs, tirelessly worked with the Colorado Pharmacists Society to advocate for the new law, which will open doors to individuals who previously could not afford their medications.
“Every year, the United States spends billions to dispose of unused prescription medicines from nursing homes, assisted living residences, hospices, and jails,” bill sponsor Sen. Lisa Cutter, said in a statement. “Additionally, many left-over prescriptions are flushed down the toilet or thrown into the trash, which causes immeasurable harm to our environment and water supply. With this new law, we are creating a program to reduce waste, protect the environment, and help Coloradans access the medication they need.”
We caught up with Dr. Moore to learn why this law is important to Colorado’s health and environment.