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

PRESS RELEASE

WOONSOCKET, R.I.

,

Aug. 17, 2016

/PRNewswire/ -- CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) announced today that the opioid overdose-reversal medication naloxone is now available without a prescription at all CVS Pharmacy locations in Colorado. CVS Health has established a standing order with physicians in

Colorado

that allows CVS Pharmacy to expand access to the medication across the state.

"Naloxone is a safe and effective antidote to opioid overdoses and by expanding access to this medication in our

Colorado

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 are dedicated to helping the communities we serve address and prevent drug abuse and we are expanding access to naloxone to give more people a chance to get the help they need for recovery."

In addition to

Colorado

, CVS Pharmacy locations in 30 other states are able to dispense naloxone to patients without an individual prescription.

"CVS Health has been a leader in helping communities prevent prescription drug abuse and we applaud their work to increase access to this life-saving drug for patients without a prescription at CVS Pharmacy locations in

Colorado

," said

Marcia Lee Taylor

, President and CEO, Partnership for Drug-Free Kids. "Increasing access to naloxone is a critical public health priority that allows patients and their families to prevent opioid fatalities and recognize when people need help working towards recovery from the disease of addiction."

CVS Health has also launched digital resources onwww.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 100,000 students have already taken part in the program. High school teachers and administrators in

Colorado

can learn more about bringing Pharmacists Teach to their school here.

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. Law enforcement officials across

Colorado

can apply to receive a drug collection unit here.