New drug disposal sites coming to Georgia to combat misuse

ATLANTA — Attorney General Chris Carr and CVS Health have announced the company’s plans to create drug-disposal collection points at 24 CVS pharmacy stores, and at CVS-sponsored locations, in Georgia.

CVS Health is installing medication disposal units at 750 locations nationwide. This initiative is meant to reduce the amount of unused and unneeded prescription medications lingering in Georgia households.

“Unfortunately, our very own medicine cabinets can be a conduit for opioid misuse,” Carr said. “We have to continue to forge innovative partnerships to strengthen our response to the opioid crisis, and CVS Health’s new initiative in Georgia is a great example of that type of collaboration. They want to make it easier than ever before to safely dispose of any unused, expired prescription drugs, getting them out of the hands of those who might otherwise abuse them.”

Opioids are a class of drugs that act on the body’s opioid receptors including natural, semi-synthetic and synthetic opioids. Doctors prescribe them, typically in pill form, to help patients with severe or chronic pain. When they are taken as directed by a medical professional, they are relatively safe and can be beneficial.

There is always a risk of addiction, and that risk increases greatly when they are misused.

“CVS Health is dedicated to addressing and preventing opioid abuse in the communities we serve here in Georgia and across the country,” Brian Bosnic, division vice president of CVS Pharmacy, said. “Expanding CVS Pharmacy’s in-store safe medication disposal program is one of the many initiatives we support to fulfill that commitment and our purpose of helping people on their path to better health.”

The Office of the Attorney General maintains an interactive drug take-back map as part of the state’s communications campaign called Dose of Reality.

The drop-off locations within a 30-mile radius of Albany, some of which include those sponsored by CVS, listed on the Dose of Reality website are:

— Worth County Sheriff’s Office, 201 N Main St. #14, Sylvester, GA 37191, Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

— Albany-Dougherty Drug Unit, 700 Pine Ave., Albany, Everyday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

— Baker County Sheriff’s Office, 167 Baker Place, Newton, Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

— Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office, 66 Court Street, Morgan, Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

— Dougherty County Judicial Building, 225 Pine Ave., Albany, Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

— Lee County Sheriff’s Office, 119 Pinewood Road, Leesburg, Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

— Mitchell County Sheriff’s Office, 300 W. Pine St., Colquitt, Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

— Terrell County Jail, 3108 Albany Hwy, Dawson, Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m

— Walgreens, 2414 Sylvester Road, Albany, 24 hours a day

“Unfortunately, the opioid epidemic is impacting every corner of our state, and Macon-Bibb County is no exception,” state Sen. John F. Kennedy, R-Macon, said. “CVS Health is working to place safe disposal options in Georgia, so that, no matter where you are, you can find a location near you.

“This is a great step forward as we continue working together to strengthen our state’s plan to curb opioid misuse in our communities.”

For additional drop-off locations, visit https://doseofrealityga.org/drug-takeback/find-a-take-back-location/

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