Blumenthal Statement on Walgreens Effort to Combat Prescription Drug, Opiate Aduse

(Hartford, CT) – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) today issued a statement praising Walgreens’ announcement of two major programs to help curb prescription drug and opiate abuse. Walgreens announced today that it will install drug disposal kiosks in stores across 39 states, including Connecticut, to help encourage safe prescription drug disposal. The pharmacy also announced that it will begin sales without prescriptions of naloxone, a life-saving opiate antidote, at stores in 35 states, including Connecticut.

“This bold leadership will help save lives-- raising drug danger awareness and making Narcan more available. Prescription drug abuse—particularly opiate abuse— is a pernicious scourge claiming lives and plaguing communities across Connecticut and nationwide. Curbing this spiraling epidemic will take major, coordinated action from all sectors, and I applaud Walgreens for their leadership today in joining this fight. In conversations across Connecticut, I have heard story after story of deadly, destructive addiction that began in the medicine cabinet of a parent or friend—excess prescription pills that opened the door to life-altering and life-ending opiate abuse. These pills are too dangerous, too tempting and too addictive to remain on bathroom shelves, and I applaud Walgreens for offering a simple way for people to safely discard excess prescription medication,” Blumenthal said. “I have also heard from people across Connecticut the stories of numerous lives saved by naloxone, and I applaud Walgreens for helping to make this life-saving anecdote more widely available."

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