Walgreens drugstores will start selling an over the counter (OTC) remedy for heroin overdoses and address the spike in opioid-related deaths in recent years. Naloxone is a non-prescription FDA-aproved cure that can reverse the effects of heroin overdose. The pharmacy chain will also install drug disposal kiosks.
Health officials classify drug overdose as a medical emergency that requires fast action to prevent death. This spotlights the importance of using OTC treatments that can be easily accessed.
Walgreens has launched two new programs to fight prescription drug abuse. The goal is to reduce medication misuse and lower the number of deaths caused by overdoses.
One program includes medicine disposal kiosks in over 500 drugstores located in 39 states and Washington D.C., according to Tech Times. The 24-hour kiosks will help to prevent the abuse of opioids and other drugs.
Walgreens has already installed kiosks in California, according to Chicago Tribune. It will expand the program to other participating states throughout this year.
The key benefit of the kiosk program is that it will allow unwanted and expired meds to be disposed of safely. It will also prevent the drugs from being misused.
Incorrect disposal of medicines can have negative effects on the environment. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that take-back collection programs for prescription drugs can prevent issues such as fishes in waterways taking in high levels of antidepressants.
The other program will make naloxone available without a prescription in drugstores throughout 35 states and D.C. This heroin overdose antidote is available as a nasal spray and injection.
CVS Health also offers the drug overdose treatment in states such as New York. The United States government worked with pharmaceutical companies to extend the almost 20 percent discount.
Richard Ashworth is the president of pharmacy and retail operations for Walgreens. He shared that the retail pharmacy chain is leading the battle against prescription drug abuse.
The National Survey on Drug Use and Health reports an estimated 6.5 million Americans abused prescription drugs in 2014.
In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 44 Americans die every day from prescription opioid overdose. Heroin and prescription painkillers cause most of the deaths.
Here's how naloxone works: