CVS Health Makes Overdose-Reversal Drug Available Without A Prescription At All CVS Pharmacy Locations in New Hampshire

"Naloxone is a safe and effective antidote to opioid overdoses and by expanding access to this medication in our New Hampshire pharmacies by the use of a physician's standing order for patients without a prescription, we can help save lives," said Tom Davis, RPh, Vice President of Pharmacy Professional Practices at CVS Pharmacy. "We support expanding naloxone availability to give more people a chance to get the help they need for recovery and we applaud the State of New Hampshire for its leadership in the fight against drug abuse and addiction."

"The opioid epidemic has touched so many families in New Hampshire and across the U.S. and expanding access to naloxone is one important step in our efforts to address it," said Marcia Lee Taylor, President and CEO of the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids.  "We applaud CVS Health for increasing access to this life-saving drug for patients without a prescription at CVS Pharmacy locations in New Hampshire and in many other states across the country."  

CVS Health has also launched digital resources on www.cvs.com/content/prescription-drug-abuse giving patients and families a single destination to learn more about drug abuse prevention. These new resources build on CVS Health's longstanding commitment to helping communities address and prevent drug abuse.  In 2015, CVS Health launched a community outreach program called Pharmacists Teach, which brings local pharmacists to high school health classes to talk to students about the dangers of drug abuse. More than 60,000 students have already taken part in the program.  High school teachers and administrators in New Hampshire can learn more about bringing Pharmacists Teach to their school at www.CVSHealth.com.

CVS Health has also joined with the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids to create the Medication Disposal for Safer Communities Program, which donates disposal units to local police departments, providing a safe and environmentally friendly way to dispose of unwanted medication. The program has already donated twelve units to police departments in the state and collected more than 1,665 pounds of unwanted medications in New Hampshire.  Law enforcement officials across New Hampshire can apply to receive a drug collection unit at www.cvs.com/safercommunities.   

In addition to New Hampshire, CVS Pharmacy locations in 22 other states can now dispense naloxone to patients without an individual prescription.

About CVS Health

CVS Health is a pharmacy innovation company helping people on their path to better health. Through its approximately 9,600 retail pharmacies, more than 1,100 walk-in medical clinics, a leading pharmacy benefits manager with more than 75 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 https://www.cvshealth.com.

Media Contact:

Erin Shields Britt
Corporate Communications
(401) 770-9237
[email protected]

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SOURCE CVS Health

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