CINCINNATI and DUBLIN, Ohio, April 23,
2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Kroger (NYSE: KR) and
Cardinal Health (NYSE: CAH) announced the companies will host
joint drug take-back events at more than 100 Kroger Family of
Pharmacies locations from 10 a.m. –
2 p.m. local time on April 28, 2018 across America, as part of the
U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's National Prescription Drug
Take-Back Day. These events will provide a safe, convenient and
anonymous way for local residents to dispose of unused or expired
medications.
During the events, local law enforcement officers will be on
site to help residents securely dispose of their medications.
Kroger pharmacy associates, and in certain locations Cardinal
Health employees, will provide educational resources on
prescription drug misuse prevention to participants.
Kroger pharmacy associates will also provide the option to
safely dispose of unwanted prescription drug medications at home
with the use of DisposeRx.
"Every day in our stores and pharmacies, in large ways and
small, Kroger is committed to being a part of the solution and
helping people live healthier lives through partnerships with
companies like Cardinal Health and by offering naloxone, the
life-saving medication at 2,300 of our pharmacy locations," said
Colleen Lindholz, Kroger's president
of pharmacy and The Little Clinic. "The drug take-back event, which
provides a safe and convenient way for our customers to dispose of
their unused or expired medications, is just one step of our
comprehensive commitment to help the communities Kroger calls home
combat the nationwide opioid epidemic."
"Supporting drug take-back events has been a priority for
Cardinal Health for many years," said Jim
Scott, Cardinal Health's Senior Vice President of National
Markets. "As part of our ongoing Opioid Action Program, we are
excited to build on our existing Generation Rx partnership with
Kroger in sponsoring take-back events that will provide a safe,
convenient and anonymous disposal method for communities across the
country and highlight the importance of using medications
safely."
Kroger and Cardinal Health care deeply about the devastation
caused by the opioid crisis in communities nationwide and are
committed to working together to help solve this complex national
public health challenge. The drug take-back events help shine a
light on the issue of prescription drug misuse and raise awareness
about the importance of drug abuse prevention education.
Independent public health experts agree that properly disposing
of prescription medications is essential to the fight against the
opioid epidemic. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and
Health, nearly 54 percent of those who misused prescription drugs
obtained them from a friend or relative.[1] The Geisinger Center
for Health Research found that only about 11 percent of unused
medication is disposed of properly.[2] Further, the National
Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine recommendations
include the need for improved consumer access to convenient and
year-round drug take-back opportunities to reduce the amount of
unused medications available for misuse.[3]
Today's announcement expands on an existing, multi-year
collaboration between Cardinal Health and Kroger to sponsor
community drug take-back events. In 2017, the companies worked
together to host 18 events throughout Ohio.
To view Kroger and Cardinal Health's 2018 drug take-back
locations, visit Kroger.com or the respective store banner's
website.
About Kroger
At The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), we are dedicated to our Purpose:
to Feed the Human Spirit™. We are nearly half a
million associates who serve nine million customers daily through a
seamless digital shopping experience and 2,800 retail food stores
under a variety of banner names, serving America through food
inspiration and uplift, and creating #ZeroHungerZeroWaste
communities by 2025. To learn more about us, visit our newsroom and
investor relations site.
About Cardinal Health
Cardinal Health, Inc. (NYSE:
CAH) is a global, integrated healthcare services and products
company, providing customized solutions for hospitals, healthcare
systems, pharmacies, ambulatory surgery centers, clinical
laboratories and physician offices worldwide. The company provides
clinically proven medical products, pharmaceuticals and
cost-effective solutions that enhance supply chain efficiency from
hospital to home. Cardinal Health connects patients,
providers, payers, pharmacists and manufacturers for integrated
care coordination and better patient management. To help combat
prescription drug abuse, the company and its education partners
created Generation Rx, a national drug education and awareness
program. Backed by nearly 100 years of experience, with
approximately 50,000 employees in nearly 60 countries, Cardinal
Health ranks #15 on the Fortune 500. For more
information, visit cardinalhealth.com,
follow @CardinalHealth on
Twitter, @cardinalhealthwings on Facebook and connect on
LinkedIn at linkedin.com/ company/cardinal-health.
[1] Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration. National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Available
online at:
https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUH-FFR2-2015/NSDUH-FFR2-2015.htm.
[2] Geisinger Center Health Research. Available online at:
https://www.geisinger.org/about-geisinger/news-and-media/news-releases/2017/03/24/18/30/study-highlights-most-common-medications-left-unused-by-patients
[3] National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine.
Pain Management and the Opioid Epidemic: Balancing Societal and
Individual Benefits and Risks of Prescription Opioid Use. Available
online at:
https://www.nap.edu/catalog/24781/pain-management-and-the-opioid-epidemic-balancing-societal-and-individual
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SOURCE The Kroger Co.