CVS/pharmacy expands access to naloxone in 12 states
WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS/pharmacy on Wednesday expanded the availability of the opioid overdose reversal medicine naloxone in 12 states beyond Rhode island and Massachusetts — the two states where naloxone was already available without a prescription.
“Over 44,000 people die from accidental drug overdoses every year in the United States and most of those deaths are from opioids, including controlled substance pain medication and illegal drugs such as heroin,” Tom Davis, VP pharmacy professional practices CVS/pharmacy, said. “Naloxone is a safe and effective antidote to opioid overdoses and by providing access to this medication in our pharmacies without a prescription in more states, we can help save lives," he said. "While all 7,800 CVS/pharmacy stores nationwide can continue to order and dispense naloxone when a prescription is presented, we support expanding naloxone availability without a prescription and are reviewing opportunities to do so in other states.”
The 12 states where CVS/pharmay is offering naloxone without a prescription include: Ark., Calif., Minn., Miss., Mont. , N.J., N.D., Pa., S.C., Tenn., Utah and Wisc.
In addition, CVS Health is currently participating in a research project with Boston Medical Center and Rhode Island Hospital to support a demonstration project of pharmacy-based naloxone rescue kits to help reduce opioid addiction and overdose deaths.
CVS/pharmacy has also renewed its Medication Disposal for Safer Communities Program, in which it works with the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids to donate drug collection units to police departments around the country, helping communities safely dispose of unwanted medications — including controlled substances.
“Our Safer Communities program has donated more than 400 drug collection units to local law enforcement around the country since last year, resulting in almost seven tons of unused medication being collected in our communities,” Davis said. “We are pleased to continue this program with the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids and provide a permanent drug disposal solution at local police departments.”
The Drug Enforcement Administration will hold National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Sept. 26. On that day, hundreds of CVS/pharmacy locations around the country will host local law enforcement collection events in store parking lots from 10 a.m to 2 p.m.
Other on-going initiatives at CVS/pharmacy to combat prescription drug abuse include:
Availability of postage-paid Environmental Return System envelopes at all of its pharmacies with which customers can send their unwanted medications for secure and environmentally-safe disposal;
Identification of physicians who exhibit extreme patterns of prescribing high risk drugs such as pain medications and suspension of dispensing their controlled substance prescriptions; and
Advocating at the federal and state levels to implement policy changes to curb prescription drug abuse, such as mandatory electronic prescribing of controlled substances and improved prescription drug monitoring programs.