WOONSOCKET, R.I., Aug. 17, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- CVS Health
(NYSE: CVS) announced today that the opioid overdose-reversal
medication naloxone is now available without a prescription at all
CVS Pharmacy locations in Colorado. CVS Health has
established a standing order with physicians in Colorado that allows CVS Pharmacy to expand
access to the medication across the state.
"Naloxone is a safe and effective antidote to opioid overdoses
and by expanding access to this medication in our Colorado 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 are dedicated to helping the
communities we serve address and prevent drug abuse and we are
expanding access to naloxone to give more people a chance to get
the help they need for recovery."
In addition to Colorado, CVS
Pharmacy locations in 30 other states are able to dispense naloxone
to patients without an individual prescription.
"CVS Health has been a leader in helping communities prevent
prescription drug abuse and we applaud their work to increase
access to this life-saving drug for patients without a prescription
at CVS Pharmacy locations in Colorado," said Marcia
Lee Taylor, President and CEO, Partnership for Drug-Free
Kids. "Increasing access to naloxone is a critical public health
priority that allows patients and their families to prevent opioid
fatalities and recognize when people need help working towards
recovery from the disease of addiction."
CVS Health has also launched digital resources on
www.cvs.com/content/prescription-drug-abuse giving patients and
families a single destination to learn more about drug abuse
prevention. These new resources build on CVS Health's longstanding
commitment to helping communities address and prevent drug
abuse. In 2015, CVS Health launched a community outreach
program called Pharmacists Teach, which brings local pharmacists to
high school health classes to talk to students about the dangers of
drug abuse. More than 100,000 students have already taken part in
the program. High school teachers and administrators in
Colorado can learn more about
bringing Pharmacists Teach to their school here.
CVS Health has also joined with the Partnership for Drug-Free
Kids to create the Medication Disposal for Safer Communities
Program, which donates disposal units to local police departments,
providing a safe and environmentally friendly way to dispose of
unwanted medication. Law enforcement officials across Colorado can apply to receive a drug
collection unit here.
About CVS Health
CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) is a pharmacy innovation company helping
people on their path to better health. Through its more than 9,600
retail pharmacies, more than 1,100 walk-in medical clinics, a
leading pharmacy benefits manager with nearly 80 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