OREANDA-NEWS. Walgreens today is launching its safe medication disposal kiosk program in Illinois with the installation of drug take-back kiosks at 45 Walgreens drugstores in Illinois. The launch is part of Walgreens effort, announced in February, to install safe medication disposal kiosks at more than 500 of its drugstores around the country.

Walgreens will be joined today by U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) at a Chicago store to kick off the drug take-back program in Illinois.

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 Illinois stores and expanding to other states this year, Walgreens is taking an important first step to help reduce the misuse of medications throughout the country,” said Alex Gourlay, co-chief operating officer of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. “We are committed to doing our part in not only our home state, but other states as well, and being part of a comprehensive solution to reverse this epidemic.”

Senator Durbin said, “Combating the prescription opioid and heroin epidemic will require an all-hands-on-deck solution. That’s why I commend Walgreens for its proactive commitment to get addictive pills out of our medicine cabinets when they are no longer needed. With four out of five new heroin users starting off by misusing prescription opioids, we must do more to prevent addiction before it takes hold. I urge other stakeholders – from drug companies to state and federal agencies – to take responsibility and do their part to address opioid addiction and save lives.”

Safe medication disposal kiosks are currently available in more than 300 Walgreens pharmacies across 24 states. 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 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, almost 15 million Americans misused a prescription drug in 20141, and that same year the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported a national total of 47,055 drug overdose deaths, which include deaths from prescription and illicit drugs. That is a 6.5 percent increase from 2013 and a 140 percent increase since 2000.2

In addition to offering a year-round solution for individuals to dispose of their medications, Walgreens continues to participate in DEA sponsored National Prescription Drug Take Back Days, serving as a collection point in communities for law enforcement to collect unwanted, unused or expired medications for safe disposal. The company is also collaborating with the American Pharmacists Association Institute on Alcoholism and Drug Dependencies to continue to offer a substance abuse education program for pharmacists and student pharmacists.

States where Walgreens Safe Medication Disposal Program has been implemented:

Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin

About Walgreens

Walgreens, 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 8 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 8,173 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. More than 400 Walgreens stores offer Healthcare Clinic or other provider retail clinic services.