CVS Health touts opioid disposal results
CVS Health is shining a light on the results of its opioid disposal effort as it gears up to participate in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s annual National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. As part of the initiative, on April 28, more than 100 CVS Pharmacy locations will host law enforcement take-back events.
Outside of the designated day, CVS Health said that its opioid disposal efforts — offering disposal units at more than 500 CVS Pharmacy stores with a goal of 750 by the end of the year — has been widely used. The company said Thursday that its disposal efforts had collected almost 350,000 pounds of unwanted medication since their inception.
“CVS Health is dedicated to helping address and prevent opioid abuse in the communities we serve and we know that increasing community access to safe medication disposal is a critical component of that effort,” said Tom Davis CVS Pharmacy vice president of professional services. “Unused medications, especially opioids, should not be left in medicine cabinets where they could be at risk of misuse or diversion, which is why we are so proud to have supported the collection of nearly 350,000 pounds of unwanted medication, getting it out of homes and disposed of safely.”
CVS Health’s rollout of disposal options to its CVS Pharmacy stores has taken place alongside its donation of the roughly 900 units it said it had donated to local law enforcement for community drug take-back efforts. It also complements its offering naloxone without a prescription in 46 states, as well as its Pharmacists Teach education effort, through which CVS pharmacists talk to local students and parents about the dangers of abusing prescription drugs.
Outside of the designated day, CVS Health said that its opioid disposal efforts — offering disposal units at more than 500 CVS Pharmacy stores with a goal of 750 by the end of the year — has been widely used. The company said Thursday that its disposal efforts had collected almost 350,000 pounds of unwanted medication since their inception.
“CVS Health is dedicated to helping address and prevent opioid abuse in the communities we serve and we know that increasing community access to safe medication disposal is a critical component of that effort,” said Tom Davis CVS Pharmacy vice president of professional services. “Unused medications, especially opioids, should not be left in medicine cabinets where they could be at risk of misuse or diversion, which is why we are so proud to have supported the collection of nearly 350,000 pounds of unwanted medication, getting it out of homes and disposed of safely.”
CVS Health’s rollout of disposal options to its CVS Pharmacy stores has taken place alongside its donation of the roughly 900 units it said it had donated to local law enforcement for community drug take-back efforts. It also complements its offering naloxone without a prescription in 46 states, as well as its Pharmacists Teach education effort, through which CVS pharmacists talk to local students and parents about the dangers of abusing prescription drugs.