CVS/pharmacy Launches Safe Medication Disposal Program

CVS/pharmacy has announced that all 7,200 of its locations now offer the Sharps Compliance Corp.'s Environmental Return System, which provides customers with the ability to safely dispose of their unused, expired, or unwanted drugs using medication disposal envelopes.

The postage-paid envelopes cost $3.99 and allow patients to mail their unwanted prescription and OTC medications through the US Postal Service to a licensed, secure facility for safe destruction. Controlled substances are excluded from this program by law.

"CVS/pharmacy is committed to safe environmental practices as well as helping customers prevent misuse at home of their unused medications, so we are pleased to partner with Sharps Compliance to provide a secure and environmentally-safe solution in our pharmacies," said Papatya Tankut, RPh, vice president of Pharmacy Professional Services at CVS/pharmacy.

"Leftover and unused pharmaceuticals are a hazard for abuse and misuse particularly by young people," said Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D, RI). "I applaud CVS and their partners for providing consumers with an easy avenue to safely dispose of unwanted medications."

CVS/pharmacy's launch of the TakeAway Environmental Return System is part of the Company's on-going commitment to safe medication disposal solutions, including participation in local medication take-back events throughout the United States and supporting the DEA's annual National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. With an estimated 200 million pounds of unwanted medications being improperly disposed of every year, the availability of this envelope return system at CVS/pharmacy provides patients with a safe and convenient way to help protect the environment and their loved ones.