CVS Health expands initiatives to safe, convenient drug disposal in Maryland

As a way to battle opioid abuse in Maryland, Woonsocket, R.I.-based CVS Health announced in a press release that part of its national commitment program in fighting the public health crisis includes adding 19 safe medication disposal units at its pharmacy locations across Maryland. In addition, the pharmacy firm’s CVS Health Foundation has pledged $85,000 to Total Health Care, a community health center in Baltimore dedicated to supporting opioid addiction recovery.

"Launching our in-store safe medication disposal program at CVS Pharmacy locations in Maryland will help remove unused prescription medications from medicine cabinets where they could be otherwise diverted or abused," said Tom Davis, Ph.D., vice president of professional services for CVS Health. "We are committed to addressing and preventing opioid abuse through our support of the work that organizations like Total Health Care do to promote addiction recovery, which directly aligns with our purpose of helping people on their path to better health."

Along with installing the medication disposal receptacles, CVS Health says it has donated disposal kiosks to police departments in Hampstead, Ellicott City and Rising Sun. CVS Health says police departments elsewhere in the state may also apply to receive such kiosks via the CVS Health Medication Disposal for Safe Communities Program. So far, CVS Health says it has donated more than 900 disposal units to police departments across the country and collected more than 350,000 pounds of unwanted medication.