Tom Moriarty, EVP, Chief Policy and External Affairs Officer, and General Counsel, CVS Health
This month CVS Health expanded its safe medication disposal program in Medford, MA with help from the Governor of Massachusetts, Charlie Baker, Secretary Marylou Sudders and Attorney General Maura Healey. The drug disposal box marked the first of 42 medication disposal units that will launch in CVS Pharmacy locations throughout Massachusetts in an effort to combat the opioid epidemic by allowing customers to drop off unwanted or unused prescription drugs safely.
“Addiction can often start at home in our own medicine cabinets, and today we are pleased to partner with CVS Health and build on efforts to address this public health crisis across the Commonwealth,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “The units give our residents more safe and reliable ways to discard unwanted medications and using them will prevent unnecessary exposure to addictive opioids for anyone in your home.”
In addition, the CVS Health Foundation announced $150,000 in grants to programs at Boston Medical Center, Mattapan Community Health Center and Greater Lawrence Family Health Center, which support addiction intervention, treatment and recovery efforts.
CVS Health will launch more than 750 medication disposal units nationwide in its pharmacies, adding to the more than 800 units that have been donated to police departments. This has resulted in the collection of more than 220,000 pounds of unwanted medication.
To find a medication disposal unit near you, visit: https://www.cvs.com/content/safer-communities-locate
For more information about our efforts in the fight against opioid abuse, visit Our Commitment to Fight Opioid Abuse and the CVS Health Impact Dashboard. And to stay informed about the most talked-about topics in health care, register for content alerts and our bi-weekly health care newsletter.