Nearly 60 percent of Americans have leftover narcotics in their homes, and 20 percent have shared those with another person. These are especially startling statistics as the country grapples with an opioid epidemic that claims the lives of 115 people each day.
When prescription medications are left unused in home medicine cabinets, it increases the risk they could end up in the wrong hands and lead to addiction or even accidental overdose. To address this growing concern, here are three ways Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) companies are helping Americans safely dispose of their prescription medications.
- National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration hosts the bi-annual National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. BCBS companies encourage their communities to bring unused or expired medications to one of the thousands of participating disposal sites across the country.
Since May 2016, the program has collected nearly 2,200 tons of medications.
- Walgreens® Safe Drug Disposal Partnership
Twelve BCBS companies* have partnered with Walgreens to expand year-round access to safe drug disposal kiosks in their communities. One year into the partnership and the program has already expanded to include 1,088 kiosks in Walgreens stores throughout the country, collecting more than 400 tons of unused, unwanted or expired medications.
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana (BCBS Louisiana) Safe Drug Drop Initiative
“There are more opioid prescriptions in Louisiana than there are people,” says Michael Tipton, head of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation.
That’s reason enough for BCBS Louisiana to install drug drop boxes across the state in partnership with the Louisiana Attorney General, the National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators and law enforcement offices. More than 64 drop boxes have been installed, safely eliminating more than two tons of medications from homes and medicine cabinets across Louisiana.
While turning the tide on the country’s opioid crisis will require comprehensive action to prevent and treat opioid addiction, curbing misuse by ridding homes of unused and expired medications is one small step that can have a big impact.
*Participating BCBS Plans include Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, Independence Blue Cross, and Regence Blue Cross
Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, Independence Blue Cross and Regence Blue Cross are independent licensees of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, an association of independent, locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies.
Walgreens® is a registered trademark of Walgreen Co. and is in no way associated or affiliated with the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Use of this trademark does not imply endorsement.