Walgreens hopes the move will make the disposal of drugs safer, easier and more convenient, which could reduce the misuse of medications and the rise in overdose deaths. In fact, drug overdoses killed more people than traffic accidents.
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CVS pharmacy has also made naloxone, as well as Narcan, a similar heroin overdose drug, available to customers without a prescription in states where it is legal to do so. It is expected to be available over the counter in over 5,800 out of 8,200 Walgreens stores in the country when the program was completely rolled out by the company within the year. This will stretch to 500 stores across 39 states in the USA and Washington D.C., but the number will later increase. They will reportedly be ready to help patients and face the challenge along with the community.
“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”, Richard Ashworth, Walgreens president of pharmacy and retail operations, said in a statement. The company believes that solutions to the problem need to be “comprehensive” when human lives are at risk.
Improper disposal of medications may have environmental implications, with the Environmental Protection Agency recommending pharmaceutical take-back collection programs over flushing or other methods.
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, the misuse or abuse of painkillers often leads to heroin abuse down the road, as it is a less expensive alternative to prescription painkillers. People will be able to safely dispose of prescription opioids and controlled substances at the kiosks, which will mainly be found at 24-hour locations. Over 50 percent of persons 12 or older who abused pain relievers in the past year got them from a friend or relative for free, including from the home medicine cabinet.
Walgreens has launched a first-of-its-kind program to combat drug abuse.
The officer administered one dose of Naloxone, and she regained consciousness and normal breathing patterns within two minutes, according to the release.
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State specific regulations prevent Walgreens from installing safe medication disposal kiosks at this time in certain states.
