Walgreens, APhA partner on substance abuse education program

WASHINGTON - Walgreens and the American Pharmacists Association on Tuesday announced a collaboration that expands Walgreens efforts to fight prescription drug abuse. Through this collaboration, the APhA Institute on Alcoholism and Drug Dependencies will continue to offer a substance abuse education program for pharmacists and student pharmacists.

 

“As a pharmacy, we are committed to playing a role in what must be a comprehensive solution to prevent addiction and prescription drug abuse throughout the country," stated Richard Ashworth, Walgreens president pharmacy and retail operations. "Our work with APhA, together with Walgreens programs that specifically target opioid abuse, will go a long way to help address the epidemics of prescription drug misuse and heroin overdoses.”

 

The collaboration with APhA is the latest step Walgreens is taking to fight prescription drug abuse. In February, Walgreens announced it will install safe medication disposal kiosks in more than 500 drug stores around the country in the first ongoing national effort of its kind by a retailer. The kiosks will make the disposal of medications — including opioids and other controlled substances — easier and more convenient while helping to reduce the misuse of medications and the rise in overdose deaths. 

 

At the same time, Walgreens also announced it will make naloxone available without a prescription in 35 states and Washington D.C. in accordance with each state’s pharmacy regulations. Both initiatives are rolling out state-by-state throughout this year.

 

The four-day educational program will be conducted in Salt Lake City, Utah (June 3-6, 2016) and will provide vital information and resources on the disease of addiction.