TOLEDO, Ohio, Feb. 1, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- CVS Health
(NYSE: CVS) announced today it would make the opioid overdose
reversal medicine naloxone available without a prescription at all
CVS Pharmacy locations across Ohio
beginning in late March 2016. White House National Drug
Control Policy Director Michael
Botticelli, Ohio Attorney
General Mike DeWine and Lucas County Sheriff John Tharp joined CVS Health in making the
announcement at a press conference in Toledo today.
"Naloxone is a safe and effective antidote to opioid overdoses
and by expanding access to this medication in our Ohio pharmacies by the use of a physician's
standing order for patients without a prescription, we can help
save lives," said Tom Davis, RPh,
Vice President of Pharmacy Professional Practices at CVS Pharmacy.
"We support expanding naloxone availability and we applaud the
State of Ohio for its leadership
in the fight against drug abuse and addiction."
"Today's announcement builds on the commitment CVS Health made
last October when President Obama announced new public and private
sector actions to address prescription drug abuse and heroin use,"
said White House Director of National Drug Control Policy Michael
Botticelli. "Expanding access to the lifesaving overdose-reversal
drug naloxone is a critical part of our national strategy to stop
the opioid overdose epidemic, along with effective enforcement,
prevention, and treatment."
"By making naloxone available at their stores without an
individual prescription, CVS Pharmacies will be helping to put
a life-saving tool in the hands of Ohioans who may have a
family member or someone close to them suffering from an opiate
addiction," said Ohio Attorney
General Mike DeWine. "Many of
our first responders carry naloxone, but having it available on a
wider basis could get help to someone who is overdosing even more
quickly."
"It shouldn't be easier for Ohioans to get opioids than it is to
get life-saving medication necessary to stop overdoses," said U.S.
Senator Sherrod Brown, who has
partnered with CVS Health on several efforts to curb prescription
drug abuse, including the Stopping Medication Abuse and Protecting
Seniors Act, which would allow pharmacies to use drug-management
programs in Medicare.‎ "‎As trusted institutions in the community,
pharmacies have an important role to play in our collective fight
against addiction to opioids and heroin. CVS Health's commitment to
solving this problem by making overdose-reversing medications
available to patients, first responders, and caregivers without an
individual prescription shows it takes this responsibility
seriously.‎ We need to use every resource available to prevent and
treat addiction and drug overdoses and help save lives in
Toledo and across Ohio, and I will continue to work with my
colleagues, the Administration, and community members to fight this
public health crisis."
"By increasing access to the life-saving drug naloxone, we can
help bring more people back from the grips of overdoses," U.S.
Senator Rob Portman stated. "This
marks an important step in our fight to combat addiction and I will
continue to work for a bottom-up, comprehensive approach to the
heroin epidemic."
CVS Health is also providing the opportunity for law enforcement
agencies in Ohio to apply to
receive a drug collection unit to help local communities safely
dispose of unwanted medications, including controlled
substances. Through the Medication Disposal for Safer
Communities Program, a joint effort of CVS Pharmacy and The
Partnership for Drug-Free Kids, more than 20 drug disposal units
donated across Ohio have collected
more than 4,000 pounds of unwanted medications since September
2014. And nation-wide, the program has donated more than 500
drug collection units and collected more than 28 metric tons of
unwanted medications.
In the Toledo area, the Safer
Communities program has donated drug collection units to the
Ottawa Hills Police Department,
the City of Oregon Police
Department and the Lucas County
Coroner's Office. Law enforcement officials can learn more
about the program and apply for a unit here or by calling
866-559-8830.
Lucas County Sheriff
John Tharp said "Saving the lives of
our family, friends, and neighbors is imperative and any tools to
help combat the current heroin epidemic in our communities should
be embraced."
CVS Health is also highlighting its community outreach program
called "Pharmacists Teach," which gives high school students the
opportunity to hear from local CVS pharmacists about the dangers of
prescription drug abuse. School administrators in
Ohio can learn more about this
opportunity and request to participate in the program by emailing
ProfessionalPracticeRetail@cvscaremark.com. Nation-wide, more
than 5,000 students have already participated in the
program.
CVS Health's move to increase access to naloxone in Ohio comes in addition to more than a dozen
states where naloxone is already available without a prescription
at CVS Pharmacy locations including Arkansas, California, Indiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, New
Jersey, New York,
North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah and Wisconsin.
About CVS Health
CVS Health is a pharmacy innovation
company helping people on their path to better health. Through its
more than 9,500 retail pharmacies, more than 1,100 walk-in medical
clinics, a leading pharmacy benefits manager with more than 70
million plan members, a dedicated senior pharmacy care business
serving more than one million patients per year, and expanding
specialty pharmacy services, the Company enables people, businesses
and communities to manage health in more affordable, 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
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