WOONSOCKET, R.I., July 27, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- CVS Health
(NYSE: CVS) announced today that the opioid overdose-reversal
medication naloxone is now available without an individual
prescription at all CVS Pharmacy locations in South Dakota.
Under a collaborative practice agreement between CVS Pharmacists
and a local physician, CVS pharmacies, located inside Target stores
in Rapid City and Sioux Falls, can dispense the medication to
patients without the need for a separate visit to a
prescriber.
"Naloxone is a safe and effective antidote to opioid overdoses
and by expanding access to this medication in our pharmacies in
South Dakota we can help save
lives," said Tom Davis, RPh, Vice
President of Pharmacy Professional Services at CVS Pharmacy. "We
are dedicated to helping the communities we serve address and
prevent prescription drug abuse and we are expanding access to
naloxone to give more people a chance to get the help they need for
recovery."
"Increased access to naloxone is an important resource for
families struggling with addiction," said Gary Mendell, founder and CEO of Shatterproof, a
non-profit dedicated to reducing the devastation the disease of
addiction causes families. "Naloxone is a safe and trusted
tool that helps loved ones fight the overdoses that are ravaging
our communities. We are pleased to see CVS Health make this
life-saving medication available at pharmacies in South Dakota and 41 other states."
Earlier this year, Shatterproof launched a new website,
Shatterproof.org, which provides information about naloxone as well
as other resources for those affected by substance use
disorder. The launch of the site was supported in part
through a grant from the CVS Health Foundation.
Today's naloxone announcement also builds on CVS Health's
commitment to helping communities address and prevent prescription
drug abuse by focusing on prevention and safe medication
disposal. In 2015 CVS Health launched a community outreach
program called Pharmacists Teach, which brings CVS pharmacists to
local schools to talk to students about the dangers of drug abuse.
More than 275,000 students across the U.S. have already taken part
in the program. High school teachers and administrators can
learn more about bringing Pharmacists Teach to their school at
www.CVSHealth.com.
CVS Health has also joined with the Partnership for Drug-Free
Kids to create the Medication Disposal for Safer Communities
Program, which donates disposal units to local police departments,
providing a safe and environmentally friendly way to dispose of
unwanted medication. Law enforcement officials in
South Dakota can apply to receive
a drug collection unit at www.cvs.com/safercommunities.
Additionally, CVS Health has launched digital resources on its
website CVS.com that give patients and families information about
drug abuse prevention.
With the addition of South
Dakota, CVS Pharmacy now dispenses naloxone to patients
without an individual prescription in these 42 states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New
Hampshire, New Jersey,
New Mexico, New York, North
Carolina, North Dakota,
Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode
Island, South Carolina,
South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah,
Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West
Virginia and Wisconsin.
About CVS Health
CVS Health is a pharmacy innovation company helping people on
their path to better health. Through its more than 9,700 retail
locations, more than 1,100 walk-in medical clinics, a leading
pharmacy benefits manager with nearly 90 million plan members, a
dedicated senior pharmacy care business serving more than one
million patients per year, expanding specialty pharmacy services,
and a leading stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan,
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
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SOURCE CVS Health