According to a survey conducted by Morning Consult and CVS Health Corp (NYSE:CVS), Americans are of the view that abuse of prescription drugs is an issue that is having an impact on their lives. Three-quarters of those who participated in the survey are also of the opinion that abuse of prescription drugs is most common with those who consume drugs that were prescribed for someone other than them.
A third of the respondents in the survey also revealed that they possessed unused pharmaceutical drugs in their homes. One fifth of the respondents also disclosed that they have had prescription drugs stolen from their residences or at least they knew someone who had prescription drugs stolen from their residence.
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
The report comes in the lead up to the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day of the Drug Enforcement Agency which will take place on April 29, 2017. Close to 140 CVS Pharmacy outlets spread all over the United States will be taking in unwanted prescription drugs. These sites are supplementary to other drug disposal locations that operate round the year and which number over 750. Most of these round-the-year locations have been donated to the law enforcement authorities courtesy of the Medication Disposal for Safer Communities program, a scheme of CVS Health.
So far over 80 tons of unwanted prescription drugs have been collected through these drug disposal locations.
“We are proud to partner with law enforcement to encourage drug disposal and prevention this weekend for National Prescription Drug Take Back Day and all year long through our Medication Disposal for Safer Communities Program.” said CVS Health’s Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Policy and External Affairs Officer, Thomas Moriarty.
Disposal methods
With regards to the method of disposal, 43% of those who participated in the survey said their preferred way is to throw unwanted prescription medicines into the trash. About 70% also revealed that they were open to using disposal units which were conveniently located.
In Thursday’s trading session, shares of CVS Health Corp edged up by 0.96% to close the day at $82.79 a share.