Company also continues participation in DEA’s
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
Walgreens today announced its safe medication disposal program
has collected and safely disposed of 72 tons of medications since
the launch of the program in 2016. The program, launched in
February 2016, is the first ongoing national effort of its kind by
a retailer to combat the national drug abuse crisis and help fight
the rise in overdose-related deaths in the U.S.
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Walgreens has collected and safely
disposed of 72 tons of unwanted medication through their safe
medication disposal program. (Photo: Business Wire)
Walgreens installed safe medication disposal kiosks, available
during regular pharmacy hours, in more than 600 pharmacies across
45 states and the District of Columbia; that’s more than 100 kiosks
above the program’s original goal. In its first year, the program
has resulted in the collection and disposal of 72 tons of unwanted
medication, or the equivalent weight of about 40 midsize cars.
As part of its continuing effort to combat drug abuse, Walgreens
will again participate in the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration
(DEA) sponsored National Prescription Drug Take Back Day held on
Saturday, April 29. In addition to Walgreens stores with year-round
safe medication disposal kiosks, other select Walgreens stores
throughout the country will serve as a collection point on April 29
for law enforcement to collect unwanted, unused or expired
medications for safe disposal.
Walgreens safe medication disposal kiosks allow individuals to
safely and conveniently dispose of their unwanted, unused or
expired prescriptions, including controlled substances, and
over-the-counter medications, at no cost. The kiosks at Walgreens
pharmacies are available during regular pharmacy hours and offer
one of the best ways to ensure medications are not accidentally
used or intentionally misused by someone else.
Walgreens has also worked to make naloxone, a lifesaving opioid
antidote, available without requiring a prescription at its
pharmacies in 44 states and Washington, D.C., adding 9 states to
its original goal announced last year. Naloxone can be used in the
event of an overdose to reverse the effects of heroin or other
opioid drugs if administered in time. The medication can be
dispensed in accordance with each state’s pharmacy regulations at
more than 7,600 Walgreens pharmacies. In the few remaining
states where a prescription is required, Walgreens is available and
eager to work with regulators to help update rules to allow for
dispensing of naloxone without a prescription.
“Since we launched this program last year, we have been truly
encouraged by how our patients have embraced the opportunities to
safely dispose of their medications. Simply put, this epidemic is
one of the most serious issues facing our country today, and this
program is making a difference in helping fight against
prescription drug abuse,” said Richard Ashworth, Walgreens
president of pharmacy and retail operations.
As highlighted in recently published research in the Journal of
the American Pharmacists Association (JAPhA)1 the availability of
naloxone at pharmacies, patient education and safe drug disposal
kiosks are key prevention initiatives to address the opioid
epidemic and reduce the increasing national burden of opioid
overdose. According to the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and
Health, an estimated 6.4 million Americans misused a prescription
drug in 2015.
To learn more about Walgreens efforts to combat drug abuse visit
Walgreens.com/combatdrugabuse.
States Included in Walgreens Safe Medication Disposal Kiosk
Program
Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, District of
Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois,
Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts,
Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, North
Carolina, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico,
New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania,
Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia,
Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
States Included in Walgreens Naloxone Program
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado,
Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho,
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland,
Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska,
Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North
Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South
Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia,
Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin.
About Walgreens
Walgreens (www.walgreens.com), one of the nation's largest
drugstore chains, is included in the Retail Pharmacy USA Division
of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (NASDAQ: WBA), the first global
pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise. More than 10 million
customers interact with Walgreens each day in communities across
America, using the most convenient, multichannel access to consumer
goods and services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and
wellness services and advice. Walgreens operates 8,175 drugstores
with a presence in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto
Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, along with its omnichannel
business, Walgreens.com. Approximately 400 Walgreens stores offer
Healthcare Clinic or other provider retail clinic
services.
1 Emily Shafer, Nyahne Bergeron, Renae Smith-Ray, Chester
Robson, Rachel O’Koren. A nationwide pharmacy chain responds to the
opioid epidemic. J Am Pharm Assoc. Available at:
http://www.japha.org/article/S1544-3191(16)31017-2/abstract
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WalgreensPhil
Caruso847-315-2962philip.caruso@walgreens.comhttp://news.walgreens.com@WalgreensNewsfacebook.com/Walgreens
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