Walgreens Launches Safe Medication Disposal Kiosk Program in New Jersey

PRESS RELEASE

DEERFIELD, Ill., December 22, 2016 - Walgreens today is launching its safe medication disposal kiosk program in New Jersey with the installation of drug take-back kiosks at 16 Walgreens drugstores in New Jersey. The launch is part of Walgreens effort, announced earlier this year, to install safe medication disposal kiosks at more than 500 of its drugstores around the country.

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Walgreens will be joined today by Governor Chris Christie at an East Brunswick store to kick off the drug take-back program in New Jersey.

“Many times, the disease of addiction begins at home in a person’s medicine cabinet, in New Jersey I have made it a priority to target this source by implementing, expanding and promoting programs such as Project Medicine Drop and the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program,” said Governor Chris Christie. “Misuse of prescription drugs is a major pathway to addiction, and this safe disposal program will go a long way to eliminating adults’ and children’s accessibility to these dangerous unused drugs.”

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 New Jersey stores, as we have done in other states this year, Walgreens is taking an important first step to reduce the misuse of medications throughout the country and curb the rise in overdose deaths,” said Kim Treece, Walgreens regional vice president in New Jersey. “Everyone has a role to play in minimizing prescription drug abuse, and we are committed to being part of a comprehensive solution to reverse this epidemic.”

Safe medication disposal kiosks are currently available in more than 500 Walgreens pharmacies across 43 states and Washington D.C. 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 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, nearly 19 million Americans misused a prescription drug in 2015¹.

In addition to offering a year-round solution for individuals to dispose of their medications, all of Walgreens New Jersey pharmacies can dispense naloxone, a life-saving opioid antidote, without requiring a prescription in accordance with state regulations.

To learn more about Walgreens efforts to combat drug abuse visit Walgreens.com/CombatDrugAbuse.

Select New Jersey Walgreens with Safe Medication Disposal Kiosks:

Carlstadt — 637 Hoboken Road

East Brunswick — 421 Ryders Lane

East Orange — 508 Main St.

Elizabeth — 600 Newark Ave.

Elmwood Park — 100 Broadway

Hamilton — 1096 Highway 33

Jersey City — 110 Newark Ave.

Millville — 1111 N. High St.

Neptune — 1905 State Route 33

Parsippany — 200 Baldwin Road, Ste. 200

Pennsauken* — 4601 Westfield Ave.

Perth Amboy — 520 Convery Blvd.

Somerville — 129 Somerset St.

Toms River — 1311 Route 37 W

Union — 2148 Morris Ave.

Waldwick — 72 Crescent Ave.

*Installation complete by December 30, 2016.