Governor Chris Christie joins Walgreens at today’s launch to help fight prescription drug abuse
DEERFIELD, Ill., 2016-Dec-23 — /EPR Retail News/ — Walgreens today (December 22, 2016) is launching its safe medication disposal kiosk program in New Jersey with the installation of drug take-back kiosks at 16 Walgreens drugstores in New Jersey. The launch is part of Walgreens effort, announced earlier this year, to install safe medication disposal kiosks at more than 500 of its drugstores around the country.
Walgreens will be joined today by Governor Chris Christie at an East Brunswick store to kick off the drug take-back program in New Jersey.
“Many times, the disease of addiction begins at home in a person’s medicine cabinet, in New Jersey I have made it a priority to target this source by implementing, expanding and promoting programs such as Project Medicine Drop and the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program,” said Governor Chris Christie. “Misuse of prescription drugs is a major pathway to addiction, and this safe disposal program will go a long way to eliminating adults’ and children’s accessibility to these dangerous unused drugs.”
The kiosks provide a safe and convenient way year-round to dispose of unwanted, unused or expired prescriptions, including controlled substances, and over-the-counter medications at no cost.
“By making safe medication disposal kiosks available in select New Jersey stores, as we have done in other states this year, Walgreens is taking an important first step to reduce the misuse of medications throughout the country and curb the rise in overdose deaths,” said Kim Treece, Walgreens regional vice president in New Jersey. “Everyone has a role to play in minimizing prescription drug abuse, and we are committed to being part of a comprehensive solution to reverse this epidemic.”
Safe medication disposal kiosks are currently available in more than 500 Walgreens pharmacies across 43 states and Washington D.C. The kiosks are available during regular pharmacy hours (24 hours a day at most kiosk locations) and offer one of the best ways to ensure medications are not accidentally used or intentionally misused by someone else.
Drug abuse continues to be a public health and safety risk. More Americans die every day from drug overdoses than from motor vehicle crashes, according to the Office of National Drug Control Policy.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, nearly 19 million Americans misused a prescription drug in 20151.
In addition to offering a year-round solution for individuals to dispose of their medications, all of Walgreens New Jersey pharmacies can dispense naloxone, a life-saving opioid antidote, without requiring a prescription in accordance with state regulations.
To learn more about Walgreens efforts to combat drug abuse visit Walgreens.com/CombatDrugAbuse.
Select New Jersey Walgreens with Safe Medication Disposal Kiosks:
Carlstadt – 637 Hoboken Road
East Brunswick – 421 Ryders Lane
East Orange – 508 Main St.
Elizabeth – 600 Newark Ave.
Elmwood Park – 100 Broadway
Hamilton – 1096 Highway 33
Jersey City – 110 Newark Ave.
Millville – 1111 N. High St.
Neptune – 1905 State Route 33
Parsippany – 200 Baldwin Road, Ste. 200
Pennsauken* – 4601 Westfield Ave.
Perth Amboy – 520 Convery Blvd.
Somerville – 129 Somerset St.
Toms River – 1311 Route 37 W
Union – 2148 Morris Ave.
Waldwick – 72 Crescent Ave.
*Installation complete by December 30, 2016.
About Walgreens
Walgreens (www.walgreens.com), one of the nation’s largest drugstore chains, is included in the Retail Pharmacy USA Division of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (NASDAQ: WBA), the first global pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise. More than 10 million customers interact with Walgreens each day in communities across America, using the most convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services and advice. Walgreens operates 8,175 drugstores with a presence in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Walgreens omnichannel business includes Walgreens.com and VisionDirect.com. Approximately 400 Walgreens stores offer Healthcare Clinic or other provider retail clinic services.
1 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health http://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUH-FFR2-2015/NSDUH-FFR2-2015.htm
Contact:
Walgreens
Phil Caruso
Phone: 847-315-2962
philip.caruso@walgreens.com
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@WalgreensNews
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Source: Walgreens