PRESTON, MN, January, 2017 — Sheriff Tom Kaase has announced that the Fillmore County Sheriff’s Office has been awarded a grant for a drug collection unit as part of CVS Health’s Medication Disposal for Safer Communities Program. The new unit will be located at the Fillmore County Sheriff’s Office, 901 Houston St. NW Preston, and will provide residents with a safe and environmentally responsible way to dispose of unwanted, unused or expired medication, including controlled substances.
“CVS Health is dedicated to helping the communities we serve address and prevent prescription drug abuse,” said Tom Davis, R.Ph., Vice President of Pharmacy Professional Services at CVS Health. “Reducing the amount of unused and unwanted medication in the home is critical to preventing prescription drug abuse. We are proud to work with the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids and local leaders to increase convenient access to safe medication disposal.”
The new drug disposal unit will help to reduce the amount of unneeded medicine in residents’ homes and decrease the potential for prescription drug abuse, which has soared in recent years, especially among teenagers. More than 70% of teenagers say it is easy to get prescription drugs from their parents’ medicine cabinets, according to a Partnership for Drug-Free Kids study. Proper drug disposal also helps to prevent the contamination of local landfills and water supplies from unused medication.
Sheriff Tom Kaase states: “Safely disposing of unused medication is critical to preventing prescription drug abuse and keeping pharmaceuticals out of our waterways. The Fillmore County Sheriff’s Office is thankful to CVS Health for this grant opportunity and also thankful for CVS Health’s commitment to helping our residents reduce the amount of unneeded medicine in our community.”
The Medication Disposal for Safer Communities program has donated more than 600 drug collection units to police departments across the country, which have collected more than 47 metric tons, or 100,000 pounds, of unwanted medication. CVS Health also assists law enforcement by supporting local drug take-back events and promoting local drug disposal collection sites. CVS Pharmacy locations have taken part in more than 800 events sponsored by local law enforcement as part of National Drug Take-Back Day.
The Medication Disposal for Safer Communities program builds on CVS Health’s overall commitment to help communities address and prevent drug abuse, including through education and prevention. Launched in 2015, CVS Health’s Pharmacists Teach program gives its pharmacists the opportunity to volunteer to speak to students at local schools about the dangers of drug abuse. More than 150,000 students have already benefitted from the program. CVS Pharmacy’s website, https://www.cvs.com/content/prescription-drug-abuse, also provides patients with resources to prevent prescription drug abuse and ensure safe use of medication.
The Fillmore County Sheriff’s Office new Drug Collection Unit site is open to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, and drugs can be dropped off with no questions asked. Fillmore County residents and CVS Pharmacy customers can also inquire about the Medication Disposal for Safer Communities Program at the toll free phone number 1 (866) 559-8830 or visit http://www.cvs.com/content/prescription-drug-abuse.
About CVS Health
CVS Health is a pharmacy innovation company helping people on their path to better health. Through its more than 9,600 retail pharmacies, more than 1,100 walk-in medical clinics, a leading pharmacy benefits manager with nearly 80 million plan members, a dedicated senior pharmacy care business serving more than one million patients per year, and expanding specialty pharmacy services, the company enables people, businesses and communities to manage health in more affordable and effective ways. This unique integrated model increases access to quality care, delivers better health outcomes and lowers overall health care costs. Find more information about how CVS Health is shaping the future of health at www.cvshealth.com.