WOONSOCKET, R.I., April 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- CVS Health
(NYSE: CVS) is marking National Prescription Drug Take Back Day,
this Saturday April 30, with the
announcement that its Medication Disposal for Safer Communities
Program has donated more than 500 drug collection units to law
enforcement partners across the U.S., resulting in the safe
disposal of more than 35 metric tons of unwanted medication to
date. In recognition of Take Back day, the company is
also:
- Hosting more than 150 take back events managed by local law
enforcement agencies at CVS Pharmacy locations around the
country
- Launching new education resources on CVS.com to help patients
use and dispose of prescription medication safely
- Donating 11 new drug disposal units to the Connecticut State Police through its
Medication Disposal for Safer Communities Program
"CVS Health is committed to helping the communities we serve
address and prevent prescription drug abuse," said Tom Davis, RPh, Vice President of Pharmacy
Professional Practices at CVS Pharmacy. "Proper disposal of
unwanted prescription medication is critical to prevent abuse and
we are proud to mark National Prescription Drug Take Back Day with
a number of important initiatives. Taken together, our
Medication Disposal for Safer Communities Program, our patient
resources on CVS.com and our Take Back events are helping us
advance CVS Health's purpose of helping people on their path to
better health."
CVS Pharmacy is a long-time supporter of National Prescription
Drug Take Back Day, which was established by the U.S. Drug
Enforcement Administration in 2010 to provide a safe, convenient
and responsible means to dispose of prescription drugs, while
educating the public about the potential for abuse of
medications.
New results of a poll recently conducted by CVS Health and
Morning Consult found 72 percent of respondents would be interested
in a drug take back day in their community. Survey results
also illustrated a significant need for this engagement: just 33
percent of respondents acknowledged the primary way they dispose of
unwanted, unused or expired medication is by taking them to a
designated disposal location, while more than 50 percent said they
do not dispose of their unused medication at all or do so in a way
not recommended by federal guidelines. Interested consumers
can find a participating Drug Take Back collection site in their
area by visiting www.dea.gov.
In recognition of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, CVS
Health is also launching new consumer education resources at
http://www.cvs.com/content/prescription-drug-abuse to help patients
ensure their medications are used and disposed of properly.
These resources will also connect community leaders to CVS Health's
youth drug abuse prevention program, Pharmacists Teach, which
brings CVS Pharmacists to local high school health classes to
educate kids about the dangers of drug abuse. Law enforcement
officials can also find online resources about how they can apply
for a drug disposal unit through CVS Health's Medication Disposal
for Safer Communities program.
Since 2014, CVS Health has operated the Medication Disposal for
Safer Communities donation program with the Partnership for
Drug-Free Kids. The program gives local police departments
nationwide the opportunity to apply for a drug collection unit that
will allow their communities to safely dispose of unwanted
medications, including controlled substances. New applications for
these collection units are now being accepted at
www.cvs.com/safercommunities.
"CVS Health's commitment to safe disposal of prescription drugs
has made a meaningful contribution to preventing drug abuse in many
communities across our country," said Marcia Lee Taylor, President and CEO of the
Partnership for Drug-Free Kids. "We value their partnership in
helping families and communities on the path to better health."
About CVS Health
CVS Health is a pharmacy
innovation company helping people on their path to better health.
Through its approximately 9,600 retail pharmacies, more than 1,100
walk-in medical clinics, a leading pharmacy benefits manager with
more than 75 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 and
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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SOURCE CVS Health