AL attorney general, CVS announce safe drug disposal program

(WAFF) - Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall joined with CVS Health Chief Policy and External Affairs Officer Thomas Moriarty, Jefferson County Sheriff Mike Hale, Homewood Mayor Scott McBrayer and Homewood Police Chief Tim Ross to announce a safe medication disposal program in Alabama.

CVS Health has provided in-store drug disposal units at five of its stores in Alabama and also has equipped 36 law enforcement agencies with on-site disposal units to provide regularly available means for people to properly discard unused medications.

In-store disposal units are available at certain CVS Pharmacy locations in Homewood, Birmingham, Russellville and Alabaster. In addition, CVS Health has provided collection units to law enforcement agencies in Anniston, Ardmore, Calera, Calhoun County, Helena, Cullman, Decatur, Demopolis, Florence, Fort Payne, Franklin County, Fultondale, Gardendale, Hartselle, Huntsville, Irondale, Jacksonville, Lanett, Lee County, Lineville, Mobile County, Shelby County and Vestavia Hills.

"It is extremely dangerous to keep unused prescription drugs on hand when they are no longer needed," said Marshall. "Many of these are controlled substances, and opioids in particular can bring tragic results. We have had tremendous success with Drug Take-Back days in Alabama and these permanent collection sites provided by CVS Health are a valuable asset because now there is a way for people to safely dispose of drugs year-round."

Marshall office reports that Alabama ranks first in the nation for the number of painkiller prescriptions per capita, and Marshall has "made fighting opioid abuse a cornerstone of his administration." He serves as co-chair of the Alabama Opioid Overdose and Addiction Council, which issued a comprehensive action plan last December. In February, he filed a lawsuit against Purdue Pharma for the harm caused by its reckless marketing and sales of opioids.

"CVS Health is dedicated to addressing and preventing opioid abuse in the communities we serve in Alabama and across the country," said Moriarty. "Expanding our safe medication disposal program to CVS Pharmacy locations in Alabama is one of the many initiatives we support to fulfill that commitment and our purpose of helping people on their path to better health."

Law enforcement can partner with CVS to locate drug disposal units within their facilities.  For more information on this program and to apply, click here.

Copyright 2018 WAFF. All rights reserved.