Walgreens Offers Prescription Drug Takeback Program

People who need to dispose of unneeded prescription drugs can now get rid of them at their local Walgreens, the company announced this week.

In the first ongoing national effort of its kind by a retailer, Walgreens is installing safe medication disposal kiosks, primarily at locations open 24 hours. The program will make the disposal of medications — including opioids and other controlled substances — easier and more convenient while helping to reduce the misuse of medications and the rise in overdose deaths.

“Take-Back programs are an important and easy way for the public to anonymously dispose of their unwanted, unused or expired medications, and (this) announcement is a step in the right direction,” DEA Acting Administrator Chuck Rosenberg said. “We look forward to the day when safe drug disposal options are commonplace and I hope this action inspires others to create similar programs.”

“ Intercepting these medicines prior to their diversion for abuse or trafficking is key,” the DEA said in a news release. “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.”

“Those who abuse pain relievers often turn to heroin as a cheaper alternative when they can no longer legally obtain their medications or afford to purchase them on the street. Four out of five new heroin users previously abused prescription drugs,“ the DEA release said.

Prescription drug drop boxes also are located at police departments around the state, including the Brick Township Police Department.

“DEA believes that these new methods of disposal, including drop-boxes located in pharmacies and law enforcement agencies, as well as mail-back programs, will enhance our efforts to remove unwanted prescription drugs from our communities and reduce drug abuse and accidental overdoses,” the release said.

In addition to the take-back program, Walgreens also announced it will make naloxone, a lifesaving opioid antidote, available without a prescription at its pharmacies, rolling out the program state-by-state throughout this year.

(Pills, by Ano Lobb, via Flickr under Creative Commons license)