Walgreens launches two programs to help address opioid abuse
DEERFIELD, Ill. - Walgreens on Tuesday announced the launch of a new effort to combat drug abuse, introducing two programs that address contributors to the crisis.
“Walgreens pharmacists play an important role in counseling patients on the safe use of their medications, and now we are leading the way in retail pharmacy’s fight against prescription drug abuse,” stated Richard Ashworth, Walgreens president of pharmacy and retail operations. “We understand the challenges our communities face, and we stand ready to help our patients and customers lead healthier lives. When the stakes are this high, the solutions must be comprehensive.”
In the first ongoing national effort of its kind by a retailer, Walgreens will install safe medication disposal kiosks in more than 500 drug stores in 39 states and Washington, D.C., primarily at locations open 24 hours. The program 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.
Walgreens also will make naloxone, a lifesaving opioid antidote, available without a prescription at its pharmacies in 35 states and Washington, D.C., rolling out the program state-by-state throughout this year.
Walgreens announced the launch at its Washington, D.C. flagship store, where the company was joined by Director of National Drug Control Policy for the White House Michael Botticelli. Also joining Director Botticelli at the launch were special guests Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill.; Rep. Bob Dold, R-Ill.; Lou Milione, Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Office of Diversion Control, Drug Enforcement Administration; and Michael Nerheim, Lake County, Ill. State’s Attorney, who shared their support for the program.
“Providing safe and convenient disposal options for prescription drugs and expanding access to the lifesaving overdose-reversal drug naloxone are critical parts of our national strategy to stop the prescription drug and heroin overdose epidemic, along with effective enforcement, prevention and treatment,” Director Botticelli said. “Today’s announcement builds on the public and private sector actions announced by President Obama in October and demonstrates our strong commitment to addressing the prescription drug abuse and heroin use epidemic as both a public health and a public safety issue.”
“Prescription drug abuse is an epidemic among American teens. At the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids, we’re asking parents and grandparents to pledge to safeguard their medicines and speak to their families about medicine abuse,” added Marcia Lee Taylor, president and CEO of Partnership for Drug-Free Kids. “The programs announced by Walgreens today will go a long way toward helping put that pledge into practice.”
The kiosks at Walgreens pharmacies will be available during regular pharmacy hours (24 hours a day at most of these locations) and will offer one of the best ways to ensure medications are not accidentally used or intentionally misused by someone else. The initial installation of the safe medication disposal kiosks has begun in California and is expected to be completed at more than 500 Walgreens locations this year.
Naloxone can be used in the event of an overdose to reverse the effects of heroin or other opioid drugs, and is administered by injection or nasal spray. The medication became available without a prescription last week at Walgreens pharmacies throughout the state of New York and will be introduced without a prescription in Indiana and Ohio later this month.
When implementation of the program is complete, naloxone will be available without a prescription in more than 5,800 of Walgreens' nearly 8,200 stores. In states where a prescription is required, Walgreens is available to work with regulators to help update rules to allow for dispensing of naloxone without a prescription.
Walgreens also continues to participate in U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration sponsored National Prescription Drug Take Back Days, serving as a collection point in communities for law enforcement to collect unwanted, unused or expired medications for safe disposal. The next DEA sponsored National Prescription Drug Take Back Day will be held on April 30.
“I commend Walgreens for stepping up to address the national epidemic of prescription drug abuse and heroin overdose. Drug take-back programs and over the counter access to naloxone are strong steps toward confronting this crisis and preventing further tragedies like we see in Chicago’s suburbs where heroin is taking a life, on average, every three days," noted Kirk. "My Anti-Heroin Task Force and I have been working to get naloxone available over the counter for families struggling with addiction, and now thanks to Walgreens Illinois is one of 35 states where families will be able to purchase this life-saving drug without a prescription.”
“Nearly one-quarter of people who try heroin become addicted, and their addiction frequently starts with recreational use of the kind of drugs that people too often leave lying around in medicine cabinets,” added Dold. “But the statistics don’t even begin to tell the whole story. As a co-chair of the Suburban Anti-Heroin Task Force in Illinois, I’ve seen firsthand how these drugs destroy families. That’s why I’ve been working with local leaders and businesses, such as Walgreens, to find common-sense solutions to curb drug abuse, and in the coming days we’ll also be introducing new legislation that will help save lives.”
By the end of the year, Walgreens will install safe medication disposal kiosks at more than 500 drug stores in the following states:
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.
State specific regulations prevent Walgreens from installing safe medication disposal kiosks at this time in certain states.
By the end of the year, Walgreens will make naloxone available without a prescription at its pharmacies in the following states:
Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.