WOONSOCKET, R.I., July 10, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- CVS Pharmacy,
the retail division of CVS Health (NYSE: CVS), today announced
the expansion of its safe medication disposal program in
Ohio, adding disposal units in 53
CVS Pharmacy stores in communities across the state, including
Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Toledo and Youngstown. The expanded program is designed
to help address the diversion and misuse of unwanted or unneeded
prescription drugs in Ohio.
"When patients leave unused medications, especially opioids, in
a medicine cabinet, there is a risk that those medications might be
misused or diverted, which is why we have worked to help increase
access to and awareness of safe medication disposal options in the
communities we serve," said William
Cuffari, R.Ph., and District Leader for CVS Pharmacy.
"Providing more options for the proper disposal of unused
medications is just one of the ways that CVS Health is working to
help combat opioid misuse, in Ohio
and across the country."
With the completed installation of 53 in-store safe medication
disposal units by the end of 2019, CVS Health will operate a total
of 82 drug disposal units in CVS Pharmacy stores in
Ohio. Nationwide, the company has
installed more than 1,300 in-store safe medication disposal units,
and has donated more than 970 units to community organizations like
police departments. Through this national effort, 408 metric tons,
or 900,000 pounds, of unwanted medication has been collected,
including 28,000 pounds in Ohio
alone.
"The battle against the opiate epidemic continues locally and
across the state of Ohio. The
fight isn't over," said Wade
Kapszukiewicz, Mayor of Toledo. "But, with each new resource and each
new partnership developed we take another step towards victory. I
commend CVS Health for answering the call to action and playing a
role in the ongoing effort to create safer and healthier
communities."
CVS Pharmacy plans to roll-out additional safe medication
disposal units across the country by the end of 2019, as part of a
commitment announced at the end of last year to help provide more
disposal options in our communities. The company is also partnering
with Google Maps to make it easier for consumers to find year-round
medication disposal options.
"On an almost daily basis, Toledo Police officers administer Narcan to
individuals who have overdosed on opioids," said George Kral, Toledo Chief of Police and Vice President of
the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police. "These overdoses are not
just from injecting heroin. We have seen increasing numbers of
overdoses where the person gained access to opioids from discarded
prescriptions or from improper storage in the home. TPD has had
collection units in each of our three stations for several years.
We are very happy that CVS is showing its commitment to keeping
these dangerous drugs off of the streets of Toledo and across Ohio."
CVS Health's commitment to helping prevent and address
prescription drug misuse extends to community education and
increasing access to the opioid overdose-reversal drug
naloxone. The company's Pharmacists Teach program brings CVS
pharmacists to schools across the country to talk to students and
parents about the dangers of prescription drug abuse. More than
500,000 students across the country, including over 19,000 in
Ohio, have participated in the
program.
CVS Pharmacy has worked with 48 states – including Ohio – and Washington, DC to increase access to the
opioid overdose-reversal drug naloxone, also known as Narcan.
Patients can obtain this potentially life-saving medication, which
can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, without an
individual prescription in these states.
About CVS Pharmacy
CVS Pharmacy, the retail division
of CVS Health (NYSE: CVS), is America's leading retail pharmacy
with over 9,800 locations. It is the first national pharmacy to end
the sale of tobacco and the first pharmacy in the nation to receive
the Community Pharmacy accreditation from URAC, the leading health
care accreditation organization that establishes quality standards
for the health care industry. CVS Pharmacy is reinventing pharmacy
to help people on their path to better health by providing the most
accessible and personalized expertise, both in its stores and
online at CVS.com. General information about CVS Pharmacy is
available at http://www.cvshealth.com.
Media Contacts:
Joe Goode,
(401) 770-9820
Joseph.Goode@cvshealth.com
Brent Burkhardt, (410)
299-2528
bburkhardt@tbc.us
View original content to download
multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cvs-health-expands-safe-medication-disposal-program-in-ohio-to-help-combat-prescription-drug-diversion-and-misuse-300882409.html
SOURCE CVS Pharmacy