Walgreens Collects more than 10 Tons of Unused Medications as it Reaches Goal of Installing Safe Medication Disposal Kiosks in 500 Pharmacies Throughout the U.S.

Company also combating drug abuse by making lifesaving opioid
antidote naloxone available without a prescription in 3,800 pharmacies
in 20 states

DEERFIELD, Ill.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#TakeBackDay–Walgreens today announced it has reached its goal of installing more
than 500 safe medication disposal kiosks this year at its pharmacies in
35 states and Washington D.C. The program, first announced in February,
is the first ongoing national effort of its kind by a retailer to combat
drug abuse and will expand to two additional states, Nevada and
Maryland, by early November.


Since the installation began earlier this year, more than 10 tons of
medication have been collected and safely disposed. The kiosks provide a
year-round, safe and convenient way to dispose of unwanted, unused or
expired prescriptions, including controlled substances, and
over-the-counter medications at no cost.

Safe medication disposal 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.

(An interactive map of stores with a safe medication disposal kiosk is
available at Walgreens.com/CombatDrugAbuse)

In addition to offering a year-round solution for individuals to dispose
of their medications, Walgreens continues to participate in DEA
sponsored National Prescription Drug Take Back Days, serving as a
collection point in communities for law enforcement to collect unwanted,
unused or expired medications for safe disposal. The next DEA sponsored
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day will be held on Oct. 22.

Walgreens has also made naloxone, a lifesaving opioid antidote,
available without requiring a prescription in more than 3,800 pharmacies
in 20 states in accordance with state pharmacy regulations. Next week,
Walgreens will begin offering naloxone without a prescription at
pharmacies in Colorado, Oregon and Utah and will continue to make the
medication more accessible and easier to obtain in states where
regulations allow.

“Walgreens has taken an important first step to reduce the misuse of
medications throughout the country and curb the rise of overdose
deaths,” said Richard Ashworth, Walgreens president of pharmacy and
retail operations. “We are committed to being part of a comprehensive
solution to reverse this epidemic and will continue our effort to make
naloxone more accessible and easier to obtain.”

In states where a prescription is required for naloxone, Walgreens is
available and eager to work with regulators to help update rules to
allow for dispensing without a prescription. When implementation of the
program is complete under current state pharmacy regulations, naloxone
will be available without requiring a prescription in more than 7,000 of
Walgreens nearly 8,200 stores.

When naloxone is dispensed instructions are provided on how to
administer the medication, which includes calling 911 as naloxone is not
a substitute for medical care, and anyone who is administered the
medication should seek immediate medical attention.

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. More
than half of individuals who misused a prescription drug obtained it
from a friend or relative.2

States where Walgreens Safe Medication Disposal Program has been
implemented:

Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, District of Columbia,
Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine,
Maryland*, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New
Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Nevada*, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode
Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont,
Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin

*Installation has begun and is expected to be complete in early November.

States where Walgreens offers naloxone without requiring a
prescription:

Alabama, Colorado*, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts,
New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York (including Duane Reade
pharmacies), North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon**, Pennsylvania,
Rhode Island, Texas, Utah*,Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin

*Will begin offering naloxone without requiring a prescription on
Monday, Oct. 24.

**Will begin offering naloxone without a prescription on Wednesday, Oct.
26.

About Walgreens

Walgreens (www.walgreens.com),
one of the nation’s largest drugstore chains, is included in the Retail
Pharmacy USA Division of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (NASDAQ: WBA),
the first global pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise. More
than 8 million customers interact with Walgreens each day in communities
across America, using the most convenient, multichannel access to
consumer goods and services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health
and wellness services and advice. Walgreens operates 8,173 drugstores
with a presence in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico
and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Walgreens omnichannel business includes
Walgreens.com and VisionDirect.com. More than 400 Walgreens stores offer
Healthcare Clinic or other provider retail clinic services.

1 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s
2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health http://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUH-FFR2-2015/NSDUH-FFR2-2015.htm

2 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s
2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health http://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUH-FFR2-2015/NSDUH-FFR2-2015.htm

Contacts

Walgreens
Phil Caruso
847-315-2962
philip.caruso@walgreens.com
http://news.walgreens.com
@WalgreensNews
facebook.com/Walgreens

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