Rite Aid Announces New In-Store Safe Medication Disposal Program
June 01 2018 - 8:30AM
Business Wire
Rite Aid President and Chief Operating Officer
Kermit Crawford and U.S. Congressman Scott Perry to Recognize
Company’s Comprehensive Strategy to Address Drug Abuse and Misuse
Today in Lemoyne, Pa.
Company Plans to Install 100 Disposal Units
Over the Next Year Inside Select Pharmacies Nationwide
Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE: RAD) announced today that it plans
to install 100 medication disposal units in select pharmacies over
the next year, the latest measure being taken by Rite Aid as part
of its comprehensive strategy to address drug abuse and misuse in
the country. The units offer individuals a free, safe and
convenient way to dispose of expired or unwanted prescription and
over-the-counter medications, helping to reduce the chances of
accidental or intentional misuse.
Rite Aid President and Chief Operating Officer Kermit Crawford
will join U.S. Congressman Scott Perry to officially unveil the
Company’s first in-store medication disposal unit at a press
conference today at 10 a.m. at the Rite Aid Pharmacy located at
1137 Market Street in Lemoyne, Pa.
“Rite Aid is committed to doing its part to address this serious
issue affecting our country and the availability of medication
disposal units inside select Rite Aid pharmacies is an important
next step in our comprehensive approach,” said Crawford. “Our
pharmacists, as medication experts, are often asked for information
on how to properly dispose of medication that’s no longer needed,
so we are proud to be able to offer in-store disposal and DisposeRx
packets as solutions to our patients and customers.”
“Rite Aid’s safe medication disposal program brings business
sense to combatting the growing public health threat and tragedy
that is the opioid crisis. This is one step in the comprehensive
approach to stop opioid abuse, and I applaud Rite Aid for taking
such great initiative. With the help of families, practitioners,
public health experts, drug companies and community action, we can
put a stop to the opioid abuse epidemic,” said Perry.
Last week, Rite Aid announced that all of its more than 2,500
pharmacies would provide free DisposeRx packets to patients with
new opioid prescriptions and patients with chronic opioid
prescriptions every six months. DisposeRx packets contain a
biodegradable powder that, when mixed with water in the
prescription vial, dissolves drugs, forming a viscous gel which may
be safely discarded in the trash. Rite Aid is the first drugstore
chain to offer DisposeRx packets.
In April, the Company announced that naloxone, a medication that
can be used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, was
available at all of its locations without a prescription. The
increased access to naloxone supports the U.S. Surgeon
General's recent Advisory on Naloxone and Opioid
Overdose. Additionally, all patients with opioid prescriptions will
receive educational information on opioid use, safe storage,
disposal and proper use of naloxone, and all patients with new
opioid prescriptions will receive required counseling on their
prescription from Rite Aid pharmacists.
In addition to supporting the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) guidelines for prescribing opioids, Rite Aid also
participates in prescription drug monitoring programs including a
“red flag” process for pharmacists to regularly review
prescriptions for patients not known by the pharmacy or where there
may be concerns or suspicions of misuse. The Company also provides
on-going education and training of Rite Aid pharmacists, covering
topics including risk factors for opioid abuse, how to identify
symptoms of an overdose and what to do in the event of an overdose,
an overview of the various naloxone therapies available and proper
administration of each and recommendations for follow-up care.
At www.riteaid.com, visitors can search for a disposal site in
their community, learn how to properly dispose of medication at
home, access resources provided by the Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and find
information on treatment for drug abuse and addiction.
Rite Aid’s pharmacy benefit manager, EnvisionRx, a
division of EnvisionRxOptions, a wholly owned subsidiary of Rite
Aid, also offers a comprehensive opioid and pain management
program, EnvisionCare Pain Management. The program includes
pre-emptive prescription strategies, such as limiting first-time
fills to seven days*, prior authorizations on certain medications,
and shortened windows to refill prescriptions. This comprehensive
program aligns with the healthcare company’s overall pain
management strategy, as well as the guidelines set by the CDC.
The Rite Aid Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, is also
addressing the issue of drug abuse and misuse as part of its
commitment to creating safe and healthy environments for children
and teens.
In March, The Rite Aid Foundation’s KidCents program announced a
three-year, $1.125 million commitment to EverFi, the nation's
leading technology innovator, to bring the Prescription Drug Safety
program to high schools in markets served by Rite Aid stores. The
program uses an evidence-based, public health approach to empower
high school students with the skills and knowledge they need to
make safe and healthy decisions about prescription drugs.
The Foundation also continues to expand its KidCents Safe
Medication Disposal Program. Launched in September 2017, the
program provides law enforcement agencies in communities served by
Rite Aid stores with free medication disposal units for individuals
to safely dispose of expired or unwanted prescription and
over-the-counter medications. As of this month, more than 175 law
enforcement agencies across the country participate in the KidCents
Safe Medication Disposal Program, with nearly 270 units available
in 18 states.
Rite Aid Corporation is one of the nation's leading drugstore
chains with fiscal 2018 annual revenues of $21.5 billion.
Information about Rite Aid, including corporate background and
press releases, is available through the company's website
at www.riteaid.com.
* Member requested adjustments to this days’ supply limitation
are subject to prescriber review and direction through the prior
authorization process.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180601005382/en/
Rite AidAshley Flower, 717-975-5718
Rite Aid (NYSE:RAD)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2024 to Apr 2024
Rite Aid (NYSE:RAD)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2023 to Apr 2024