MEDFORD — A CVS store will be the first location of a statewide effort to expand the Health Medication Disposal Program in Massachusetts, which is designed to help fight the opioid epidemic gripping the region and the state.
CVS is launching 42 new medical disposal units in CVS Pharmacy locations throughout the Commonwealth for easy disposal of unwanted, unused or expired medications in effort to help fight the opioid epidemic.
Governor Charlie Baker was joined by Medford Mayor Stephanie Burke and Medford Police Chief Leo Sacco Jr. to make the announcement at the store, located at 590 Fellsway at the Wellington Circle. Also on hand were Marylou Sudders, from Massachusetts Secretary of Health and Human Services, Attorney General Maura Healey, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan, and CVS Health Executive Vice President Tom Moriarty.
“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,” Baker said in a statement.
“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.”
The new units will join the nearly 40 units CVS Health has donated to police departments across the state and will be available for drug disposal during regular pharmacy hours.
Nationwide, CVS Health will launch more than 750 medication disposal units in its pharmacies and has donated more than 800 units to police departments, collecting more than 220,000 pounds of unwanted medication.
“The city of Medford is ready to assist in fighting this health crisis which we face in this community and many across Massachusetts,” Burke said. “We welcome this valuable addition to our community and thank CVS and Governor Baker for their support of this program.”
“We need all hands on deck to combat the opioid epidemic,” said Healey. “That’s why my office has worked closely with partners across business, law enforcement, and every level of government to disrupt drug trafficking, change prescribing practices, increase access to treatment, and fund prevention and education in our schools.
“I applaud CVS Health for making it easier for our residents to safely dispose of unwanted medications, and I look forward to continuing our work toward ending this crisis once and for all.”
Between 2011 and 2015, statistics show that non-fatal overdoses increased by about 200 percent in Massachusetts. CVS Health is one of several pharmacies statewide that has made naloxone, an overdose reversal drug, available without requiring a prescription from a physician. To date, Massachusetts health officials have helped train more than 56,000 people statewide to administer the life-saving drug.
