Rite Aid, Google Maps partner on safe medication disposal awareness
Rite Aid and The Rite Aid Foundation announced today that over 550 medication disposal units across the nation are now searchable on Google Maps, making it even easier for people to safely dispose of unneeded or unwanted medications.
“We are constantly looking for additional ways to help combat prescription drug abuse and misuse, which is impacting communities across the country,” Rite Aid's chief operating officer and president of The Rite Aid Foundation, Bryan Everett said. “Thanks to new technology, and partners like Google, finding a safe, monitored place to dispose of unused or unwanted prescription drugs is now as easy as opening an app on your phone or using Google Maps on your laptop.”
To find a safe medication disposal unit in one of the retailer's stores or a KidCents Safe Medication Disposal Unit in a local police station or law enforcement agency, users can simply search on Google (including Google Maps on a browser or mobile device) for “medication disposal near me.” Google will show results with the closest Rite Aid medication disposal units for people to safely dispose of their unwanted prescription drugs.
"Google is honored to partner with Rite Aid to make it easier for Americans to safely dispose of unwanted medications, including those that are fueling the tragic opioid epidemic," Google's senior counsel Michael Trinh said. "With just a single search on Google, Americans can quickly find convenient medication disposal locations at pharmacies and law-enforcement locations open year-round and do their part to reduce the harmful health and environmental impacts of unused or unwanted medications."
The partnership with Google is one of several initiatives in-store and beyond that Rite Aid has implemented as part of its comprehensive strategy to address prescription drug abuse and misuse.
In 2017, The Rite Aid Foundation launched the KidCents Safe Medication Disposal program. The program provides law enforcement agencies in communities served by Rite Aid with free medication disposal units for individuals to safely dispose of expired or unwanted medications. Since launch, the program has expanded to 18 states. To date, the Foundation has partnered with more than 400 law enforcement agencies to make more than 450 units available to customers and communities.
In 2018, Rite Aid announced plans to install 100 medication disposal units in stores across the country. The 100th unit was recently installed in Ottawa, Ohio.
In addition to medication disposal units, The Rite Aid Foundation’s KidCents program has made a multi-year, commitment to the Prescription Drug Safety program, an innovative digital course about prescription drug abuse prevention.
“We are constantly looking for additional ways to help combat prescription drug abuse and misuse, which is impacting communities across the country,” Rite Aid's chief operating officer and president of The Rite Aid Foundation, Bryan Everett said. “Thanks to new technology, and partners like Google, finding a safe, monitored place to dispose of unused or unwanted prescription drugs is now as easy as opening an app on your phone or using Google Maps on your laptop.”
To find a safe medication disposal unit in one of the retailer's stores or a KidCents Safe Medication Disposal Unit in a local police station or law enforcement agency, users can simply search on Google (including Google Maps on a browser or mobile device) for “medication disposal near me.” Google will show results with the closest Rite Aid medication disposal units for people to safely dispose of their unwanted prescription drugs.
"Google is honored to partner with Rite Aid to make it easier for Americans to safely dispose of unwanted medications, including those that are fueling the tragic opioid epidemic," Google's senior counsel Michael Trinh said. "With just a single search on Google, Americans can quickly find convenient medication disposal locations at pharmacies and law-enforcement locations open year-round and do their part to reduce the harmful health and environmental impacts of unused or unwanted medications."
The partnership with Google is one of several initiatives in-store and beyond that Rite Aid has implemented as part of its comprehensive strategy to address prescription drug abuse and misuse.
In 2017, The Rite Aid Foundation launched the KidCents Safe Medication Disposal program. The program provides law enforcement agencies in communities served by Rite Aid with free medication disposal units for individuals to safely dispose of expired or unwanted medications. Since launch, the program has expanded to 18 states. To date, the Foundation has partnered with more than 400 law enforcement agencies to make more than 450 units available to customers and communities.
In 2018, Rite Aid announced plans to install 100 medication disposal units in stores across the country. The 100th unit was recently installed in Ottawa, Ohio.
In addition to medication disposal units, The Rite Aid Foundation’s KidCents program has made a multi-year, commitment to the Prescription Drug Safety program, an innovative digital course about prescription drug abuse prevention.