Program now offering more than 1,300 safe
medication disposal kiosks
Time delay safes expanded to more than 5,900
pharmacies to securely store controlled substances
Walgreens today announced updates on its comprehensive efforts
to combat the opioid epidemic. The company’s first of its kind safe
medication disposal program has collected and safely disposed of
more than 1.2 million pounds of unwanted prescriptions,
including controlled substances and other medications, reaching a
significant milestone in only three years since the effort
began.
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Walgreens safe medication disposal
program collects 1.2 million pounds unwanted medication (Photo:
Business Wire)
“This is a true testament to how our customers and patients have
responded to the need for convenient access to medication disposal
options in their community,” said Rick Gates, Walgreens senior vice
president of pharmacy and health care. “We are proud to be the
leader in making ‘drug take back day’ available every day, just as
we are grateful to the organizations across the health care
community who have joined us to address the opioid epidemic.”
Walgreens continues to work with leading health care
organizations AmerisourceBergen, Pfizer and Prime Therapeutics to
expand its safe medication disposal kiosks across the country. Safe
medication disposal kiosks collect unwanted prescriptions,
including controlled substances and over-the-counter medications
year-round at no cost to customers.
Finding one of the more than 1,300 safe medication disposal
kiosks – available in 46 states and Washington, DC – has never been
easier. Through a collaboration with Google, Americans can quickly
and easily find the nearest Walgreens with a safe medication
disposal kiosk by searching online for “drug drop off near me” or
“medication disposal near me.”
“As a supply chain partner, AmerisourceBergen is committed to
supporting comprehensive solutions that help mitigate the impact of
the opioid crisis on our communities,” said George Rafferty,
President of Corporate Partnerships, AmerisourceBergen. “Safe
storage and disposal of unused medications is a vital part of
addressing prescription drugs misuse. This milestone represents how
collaboration between all parties across health care can drive
great progress, and we are proud to be part of this
initiative.”
“We are proud to be part of an effort to help reduce harm from
intentional misuse of or accidental exposure to unwanted medicines.
The impressive results after three years are proof-positive that
much more can and will be accomplished as the program continues to
expand,” said Dr. Freda Lewis-Hall, Executive Vice President and
Chief Patient Officer at Pfizer.
“Prime continues to promote the safe medication disposal program
as an effective way to reduce misuse of controlled substances,”
said Jonathan Gavras, senior vice president and chief medical
officer, Prime Therapeutics. “Prime is also the first pharmacy
benefit manager to work upstream – using predictive modeling – to
identify individuals who may be at increased probability of
receiving high dose opioids to help avoid overprescribing in the
first place. Getting ahead of the epidemic is critical to truly
combating this national issue and one that can save lives.”
As part of its continuing effort to combat drug abuse, Walgreens
will again participate in the National Prescription Drug Take Back
Day held on April 27 where select Walgreens stores throughout the
country will serve as a collection point for law enforcement to
collect unwanted, unused or expired medications for safe
disposal.
To complement its existing safe medication disposal kiosk
program, Walgreens has committed to providing a year-round safe
drug disposal option in all of its pharmacies at no cost to
customers. By the end of 2019, all Walgreens pharmacies that do not
offer a safe medication disposal kiosk will offer a take home safe
medication disposal kit available upon patient request at the
pharmacy counter.
Both programs make the disposal of medications — including
opioids and other controlled substances — easier and more
convenient.
Expanding Time Delay Safes to Further Prevent
Diversion
Walgreens has also expanded its use of high security safes with
time delay locking capabilities in more than 5,900 of its
pharmacies in 41 states and Washington D.C., as part of its effort
to curb the misuse of opioids and other medications.
The new and upgraded safes are designed to prevent diversion of
controlled substances by averting the accessibility of narcotic
medications by unauthorized individuals and have replaced earlier
versions of the technology previously in use in select
pharmacies.
The safes are constructed of heavy steel and feature time delay
locking capabilities that, when activated, remain locked for
several minutes. This prevents the immediate availability of the
items to secure controlled substances, including opioids,
frequently targeted in robberies and thefts. Ample signage
throughout the store informs the public that time delay locked
safes are in use.
High security safes with time delay capability are in use in
pharmacies across the following states:
Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware,
District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa,
Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan,
Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New
Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, New York**,
Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South
Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West
Virginia, Wyoming
**Installation in New York expected to be complete in May.
The company plans to continue to expand the use of the high
security safes to all of its remaining pharmacies in the
continental U.S. by end of 2019.
Walgreens also stocks naloxone in all of its pharmacies and is
able to dispense the medication without requiring a prescription in
48 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico.
To learn more of Walgreens efforts visit
Walgreens.com/combatdrugabuse.
About Walgreens
Walgreens (walgreens.com), one of the nation's largest drugstore
chains, is included in the Retail Pharmacy USA Division of
Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (NASDAQ: WBA), the first global
pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise. Approximately 8
million customers interact with Walgreens in stores and online each
day, using the most convenient, multichannel access to consumer
goods and services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and
wellness services and advice. As of August 31, 2018, Walgreens
operates 9,560 drugstores with a presence in all 50 states, the
District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands,
along with its omnichannel business, Walgreens.com. Approximately
400 Walgreens stores offer Healthcare Clinic or other provider
retail clinic services.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190424005199/en/
Contact: Phil CarusoPhone:
847-315-2962philip.caruso@walgreens.com
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