WOONSOCKET, R.I., Sept. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- CVS Health
(NYSE: CVS) today announced it will expand its commitment to
preventing drug abuse among young people through investments in two
prevention education programs. The CVS Health Foundation will
launch a new partnership with DoSomething.org to create a
peer-to-peer prevention and intervention program delivered to young
people via text message and online. CVS Health is also
renewing its successful Pharmacists Teach program, which connects
CVS pharmacists to local high school students in their communities
to discuss the dangers of prescription drug abuse. Entering
its second year, the program has already reached more than 100,000
students across the country.
"As a pharmacy innovation company, we care deeply about
preventing drug abuse among young people and we are proud of these
unique programs that will make a meaningful difference for so many
teens and their families," said Helena
Foulkes, President, CVS Pharmacy. "We have seen
tremendous enthusiasm from our CVS pharmacists, who have
volunteered to speak to more than 100,000 students about the
dangers of prescription drug abuse as part of our Pharmacists Teach
program, which will continue into this new school year. And, we are
pleased to expand on our abuse prevention efforts with a new
program to reach young people digitally through our partnership
with DoSomething.org."
Launching this fall, the CVS Health Foundation's campaign with
DoSomething.org, an organization focused on empowering young people
to take action to address meaningful social causes, will activate
youth to combat prescription drug abuse and misuse. The text
message experience will counter the perception that prescription
drugs are safer than illicit drugs, teach behaviors that guard
against abuse, prepare young people to confront their peers about
abuse and challenge the misconception that prescription drug abuse
and misuse is normal. The campaign is designed to reach
millions of young people through text, email, social media,
youth-focused marketing and
PSAs.
"DoSomething.org is committed to giving young people ways to
take action on important issues that they care about," said Aria
Finger, CEO at DoSomething.org. "We're thrilled that CVS Health is
making it a priority as a company to address such an important
issue and that we're partnering to equip young people with the
tools they need to talk to their friends and family members about
the misuse and abuse of prescription
painkillers."
CVS Health is also continuing the Pharmacists Teach program it
launched last fall into the 2016-2017 school year. Through
this program, school administrators and teachers across the country
can work with the company to arrange for local CVS pharmacists to
speak to high school-aged students. The Pharmacists Teach
presentation, developed in coordination with the Partnership for
Drug-Free Kids, educates students about the dangers of prescription
drug abuse and teaches them that one choice can change everything
in their lives.
About CVS Health
CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) is a pharmacy
innovation company helping people on their path to better health.
Through its more than 9,600 retail pharmacies, more than 1,100
walk-in medical clinics, a leading pharmacy benefits manager with
nearly 80 million plan members, a dedicated senior pharmacy care
business serving more than one million patients per year, and
expanding specialty pharmacy services, the Company enables people,
businesses and communities to manage health in more affordable and
effective ways. This unique integrated model increases access to
quality care, delivers better health outcomes and lowers overall
health care costs. Find more information about how CVS Health is
shaping the future of health at https://www.cvshealth.com.
Media Contact:
Erin Shields Britt
Corporate Communications
(401) 770-9237
Erin.Britt@CVSHealth.com
Mary Alfieri
Corporate Communications
(401) 770-9811
Mary.Alfieri@CVSHealth.com
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SOURCE CVS Health