RICHMOND, Va., June 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- CVS Health
(NYSE: CVS) announced today that the company has expanded its safe
medication disposal program to select CVS Pharmacy locations in
Virginia to help facilitate proper
and timely disposal of opioids and other medications that could be
diverted or misused if left in medicine cabinets. Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring, Chesterfield Deputy Chief of Police, Lt. Col.
Dan Kelly, addiction specialist Dr.
Peter Breslin and McShin Foundation
CEO Honesty Brackett Liller attended the launch of the program at a
Richmond CVS Pharmacy location.
"Every day, our pharmacy teams see firsthand the impact of the
alarming and rapidly growing epidemic of opioid addiction and
misuse," said Thomas M. Moriarty,
Chief Policy and External Affairs Officer, CVS Health. "Expanding
our safe medication disposal efforts here in Virginia is an extension of the many
initiatives in place across our company to fight the opioid abuse
epidemic and fulfill our purpose of helping people on their path to
better health."
The 32 new medication disposal units will be installed in CVS
Pharmacy locations across the state, supplementing the 64 units CVS
Health has donated to local law enforcement departments in
Virginia. Nationwide, the company
has donated nearly 900 units to police departments, collecting more
than 350,000 pounds, or 159 metric tons, of unwanted
medication.
"This is an important step in combatting fatal heroin and
prescription drug overdoses and provides a safe way for Virginians
to get these unused or unwanted drugs out of their homes," said
Attorney General Mark Herring. "Many
times opioid addiction begins with the medicine cabinet, which is
why it is crucial that we dispose of these drugs before they get
into the hands of someone who could misuse or abuse them. I want to
thank CVS Health for being proactive and I would encourage more
pharmacies to install safe drug disposal units across the
Commonwealth."
"Chesterfield County and the
Metro Richmond area, like communities across the country, are
grappling with the devastating impacts of addiction," said Lt. Col.
Daniel W. Kelly, deputy chief of
support for the Chesterfield
County Police Department. "Our department welcomes
additional programs to the county as we continuously work,
internally and collaboratively with other entities, to reduce the
negative consequences of addiction through prevention, education,
outreach, and enforcement."
"Harm reduction is the key pillar in addiction treatment and,
with this movement, CVS Health is showing that they truly
understand it," said Dr. Peter
Breslin, an addiction medicine specialist in Richmond, VA. "CVS Health understands the
seriousness of the opioid epidemic and is taking clear measures to
prevent our kids from getting addicted, or even worse, falling
victim to an accidental overdose in the home."
"I am excited to see CVS Health stepping up and taking the
initiative to help with this epidemic," said Honesty Liller, CEO,
The McShin Foundation. "This is a community problem and we all need
to work together to help save lives."
The new units in Virginia are
part of the expansion of 750 safe medication disposal units to CVS
Pharmacy locations across the U.S. and other enhancements to the
company's strategy to address and prevent opioid abuse, announced
in September 2017. As part of
that effort, the company also said it would enhance opioid
utilization management aligned with the CDC Guideline for CVS
Caremark clients and members, complementing measures already in
place. This work builds on ongoing programs the company
operates including the Pharmacists Teach program, which brings CVS
Pharmacists to local schools to talk to teens and parents about the
dangers of abusing prescription drugs. More than 300,000
teens nationally – including nearly 13,000 in Virginia – have already participated in the
program. CVS Health has also worked to expand access to the
opioid overdose-reversal drug naloxone in 46 states, including
Virginia.
About CVS Health
CVS Health is a pharmacy innovation
company helping people on their path to better health. Through its
more than 9,800 retail locations, more than 1,100 walk-in medical
clinics, a leading pharmacy benefits manager with approximately 94
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
View original content with
multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cvs-health-expands-safe-drug-disposal-at-cvs-pharmacy-locations-in-virginia-to-help-combat-opioid-abuse-300666390.html
SOURCE CVS Health