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The state of Florida is suing CVS because they claim that they're adding to the opioid crisis. CVS is being accused of overselling pain killers and OxyContin. According to reports in 2016 more than 5,000 people were killed because of opioids in Florida. Between 2006 - 2014 CVS sold over 700 million opioids and Walgreens sold over a billion of painkillers. But Florida is only one of many states battling this crisis. 

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The state of Florida is suing CVS because they claim that they're adding to the opioid crisis. CVS is being accused of overselling pain killers and OxyContin. According to reports in 2016 more than 5,000 people were killed because of opioids in Florida. Between 2006 - 2014 CVS sold over 700 million opioids and Walgreens sold over a billion of painkillers. But Florida is only one of many states battling this crisis. 

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Florida is suing CVS and Walgreens for allegedly overselling painkillers and not taking precautions to prevent illegal sales.

The suit, brought by the state's Attorney General Pam Bondi on Friday, adds the nation's largest drugstore chains to a lawsuit filed in May that names pharma distributor Endo Pharmaceuticals, the maker and seller of Percocet, and Purdue Pharma for overselling OxyContin, the notorious pain-killers of the opioid epidemic.

The state-court lawsuit, noting that opioids killed 5,725 Floridians in 2016 alone, argued that the chains have not taken precautions to prevent illegal distribution, and thereby have contributed to the opioid crisis. CVS sold 700 million opioid dosages between 2006 and 2014 and Walgreens distributed billions of painkillers in the state since 2006, according to the suit.

"Walgreens has violated its obligations under Florida law as both a large-scale distributor and a large-scale pharmacy to prevent abuse," the suit said.

Walgreens paid $80 million in 2013 to resolve a federal investigation about its record-keeping of opioid sales, the suit noted. That same year, the chain distributed 2.2 million opioid tablets from its store in Hudson, a Tampa-area town of 12,000, and it sold 285,000 pills in a month in one unidentified town of 3,000.

Florida is suing CVS and Walgreens for allegedly overselling painkillers and not taking precautions to prevent illegal sales.

The suit, brought by the state's Attorney General Pam Bondi on Friday, adds the nation's largest drugstore chains to a lawsuit filed in May that names pharma distributor Endo Pharmaceuticals, the maker and seller of Percocet, and Purdue Pharma for overselling OxyContin, the notorious pain-killers of the opioid epidemic.

The state-court lawsuit, noting that opioids killed 5,725 Floridians in 2016 alone, argued that the chains have not taken precautions to prevent illegal distribution, and thereby have contributed to the opioid crisis. CVS sold 700 million opioid dosages between 2006 and 2014 and Walgreens distributed billions of painkillers in the state since 2006, according to the suit.

"Walgreens has violated its obligations under Florida law as both a large-scale distributor and a large-scale pharmacy to prevent abuse," the suit said.

Walgreens paid $80 million in 2013 to resolve a federal investigation about its record-keeping of opioid sales, the suit noted. That same year, the chain distributed 2.2 million opioid tablets from its store in Hudson, a Tampa-area town of 12,000, and it sold 285,000 pills in a month in one unidentified town of 3,000.

Walgreens did not issue a response since the lawsuit is still pending, but CVS spokesperson Mike DeAngelis told the Associated Press that the suit is unfounded since the company trains its pharmacists and their assistants to detect potentially illegal sales.

"Over the past several years, CVS has taken numerous actions to strengthen our existing safeguards to help address the nation's opioid epidemic," DeAngelis said.

Florida is among more than 1,000 state and local governments across the U.S. currently suing opioid-makers and distributors. A federal judge in Cleveland said a test case regarding the opioid crisis should be brought to the Supreme Court next year.

Cover: Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi gives a press conference Tuesday, May 15, 2018, in Tampa, announcing that her office has filed a lawsuit against five large drug manufacturers and distributers of opioids. (Octavio Jones/The Tampa Bay Times via AP)

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Florida is suing CVS and Walgreens for allegedly adding to the opioid crisis

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Florida is suing CVS and Walgreens for allegedly overselling painkillers and not taking precautions to prevent illegal sales. The suit, brought by the state's Attorney General Pam Bondi on Friday, adds the nation's largest drugstore chains to a lawsuit filed in May that names pharma distributor Endo Pharmaceuticals, the maker and seller of Percocet, and Purdue Pharma for overselling OxyContin, the notorious pain-killers of the opioid epidemic.

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Everyday people are finding ways to get drugs off the street. The opioid crisis is very strong in the world right now. National take back day is a day to get rid of any drugs you don't want. The government also puts money together to educate people, create monitor programs, and limit drug prescription. 

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Everyday people are finding ways to get drugs off the street. The opioid crisis is very strong in the world right now. National take back day is a day to get rid of any drugs you don't want. The government also puts money together to educate people, create monitor programs, and limit drug prescription. 

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National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
On Saturday, Special Notice - Nevada: Carson City, Washoe County, Douglas County ONLY! Take Back Day is Saturday, October 20, 2018. October 27, 2018 - 10AM to 2PM local time, communities will team up with law enforcement to host the next National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day.

During Take-Back Days each fall and spring collection sites are set up in local cities throughout the nation for safe disposal of prescription drugs, including opioids.

You can call the Drug Enforcement Agency's (DEA's) Office of Diversion Control's Registration Call Center at 1-800-882-9539 or check the DEA's website for authorized collection sites in your area.

Consumers may also continue to utilize the guidelines Disposal of Unused Medicines: What You Should Know as posted by the FDA if they are not able to attend a scheduled Take-Back Day.

The disposal service is free and anonymous for consumers, with no questions asked. The website will be continuously updated with new take-back locations.

What is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day?

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) hosts a no-questions asked National Prescription Drug Take-Back events twice per year where temporary collection sites are set up in local cities throughout the nation for safe disposal of prescription drugs, including opioids.

Opioid abuse is at epidemic levels in the U.S., and remains a top public health concern. Consumers should dispose of expired, unwanted, or unused medicines as quickly as possible to help reduce accidental or intentional overdoses or illegal abuse. The DEA's "Take-Back" initiative is one of several strategies to reduce prescription drug abuse and diversion in the nation.

In 2018, the U.S. government allotted $4.6 billion in the federal budget towards the expanding opioid crisis. Additional strategies include:

Education of health care providers, patients, parents and youth

Establishing prescription drug monitoring programs in all 50 states

Increased enforcement to address illicit methods of prescription drug diversion.

DEA began hosting National Prescription Drug Take-Back events in 2010. At the last Take-Back Day in April 2018 over 5,800 sites across the nation collected unwanted or expired medications totaling almost 1 million pounds. This is the largest amount collected since the program began in 2010. The total amount of prescription drugs collected by DEA since the fall of 2010 is 9,964,714 pounds.

What Items Are Not Accepted at Take Back Events?

Keep in mind that these items generally are not accepted at the drop box. Check with the collector ahead of time to determine what items are specifically not accepted.

Needles or other sharps

Asthma inhalers

Mercury thermometers

Iodine-containing medications

Illicit drugs or substances (including marijuana which is still a schedule 1 drug under federal law), and any prescription medications obtained illegally.

Can I Throw Medicine in the Trash?

With certain precautions, most, BUT NOT ALL, medications can be thrown in the trash. These include prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs in pills, liquids, drops, patches, and creams.

However, some medicines should be disposed of by flushing down the toilet (when take-back options are not readily available) as they can be very dangerous and even fatal. Since these medicines may be especially harmful to a child, pet, or anyone else if taken accidentally, it is important to store them safely and securely until disposal if they are not immediately flushed.

If no DEA-authorized collection sites (pharmacy, hospital, or law enforcement location) are available, and no Take Back Days are scheduled in your area, you can follow these steps to dispose of most medicines in the household trash:

1. Mix medicines with an unpalatable substance such as dirt, used coffee grounds, or kitty litter. Take them out of their original container first. Do not crush tablets or capsules before mixing.

2. Place the mixture in a container (sealed plastic bag or empty can) to prevent the drug from leaking into the garbage.

3. Throw the container in the trash.

4. When disposing of empty prescription bottles, be sure to mark out identifying personal information to make it unreadable.

As noted, some medications should be flushed down the toilet when take-back options are not accessible because even one accidental dose could be fatal. These medications may be especially harmful -- or fatal -- to children and pets. Deaths have been reported in toddlers.

One example is fentanyl (Duragesic) patch, a powerful narcotic pain medication. Instead of placing used or unwanted fentanyl patches in the trash where they could be accidentally ingested, patients should dispose of them by flushing down the toilet as described in the patient leaflet.

FDA recommends disposing of used fentanyl patches immediately after taking them off of the skin. Fold the patch in half so that the sticky sides meet, and then flush it down the toilet.

Used or unneeded fentanyl patches should NOT be placed in the household trash where children or pets can find them. You can read more about disposing of fentanyl patches in the product Medication Guide.

You can access the FDA list of medications that should be flushed down the toilet when take-back options are not available at this link.

Be sure to read your prescription information that comes with any medication from the pharmacy. Many medications have specific directions for disposal of unwanted or expired medications explained in the patient leaflet. Ask your pharmacist for specific directions if you aren't sure.

Other options for unused medications include mail-back programs and authorized permanent collection sites ("drop-boxes") found in pharmacies, hospitals, or law enforcement facilities.

Points for Safe Drug Disposal

Inhalers and aerosol products can be dangerous if punctured or thrown into a fire or incinerator. Read the handling instructions on your inhaler. As recommended by the FDA, contact your local trash and recycling facility to confirm local laws about disposal of inhalers and aerosols.

Residents of assisted living communities and skilled nursing facilities and their family members should check with their community health care management team to learn the best way to dispose of used or unneeded medicines. Here are additional directions for safe disposal in assisted living communities

Protect your identity, too. Before you throw away the medication container or bottle, fully mark out any personal information such as your name, address, and prescription number to protect your privacy. Do not place prescription bottles with personal information in collection receptacles or mail-back packages.

Why Should I Be Concerned About Safe Disposal of Medicines?

Prescription medications play an important role in the health of millions of Americans. However, expired medications or unused drugs often stay in the back of cabinets for months or even years. These expired drugs can pose significant health hazards to toddlers, teens, and even pets who may inadvertently consume these medications. Some medications are so potent that even one dose could be fatal if accidentally ingested or even touched.

There are other important safety issues:

Misuse of prescription narcotic drugs (opioids) is a major public health concern. In fact, over 115 people die each day from opioid (narcotic) overdoses.

Deaths from prescription opioids, drugs like oxycodone, hydrocodone, and methadone, have increased fourfold since 1999, as noted by the CDC.

A U.S. government review shows that more than half of all people who first misuse prescription drugs get them from their friends, relatives or simply take them without asking.

A 2018 report found that the number of children hospitalized for opioid poisoning increased by 3-fold between 1997 and 2012, and the largest overall increase was among toddlers and preschoolers, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. These statistics magnify the need for proper disposal of unused or expired prescription medications from the home to help prevent misuse -- or accidental overdose -- of dangerous drugs.

What Happens to My Medicine After I Dispose of Them at a Prescription Take-Back Day?

The most common method of rendering pharmaceutical controlled substances unusable and non-retrievable is by incineration.

Does Flushing Medications Down the Toilet Pose a Risk to the Environment?

FDA has stated that disposal of these select few medicines by flushing down the toilet would only contribute to a small fraction of the total amount of medicine found in surface and drinking water. FDA environmental authorities claim most medicines in water are a result of elimination via the body from urine or feces. The FDA and EPA state there has been no indication of environmental effects due to flushing medications.

FDA also states that based on available data, the risk to humans from accidental exposure to these potent medications far outweighs the environmental risk.
Slideshow: Chronic Pain Management: A Healthcare Professional's Guide
What Is Being Done to Address the Opioid Epidemic?

Two federal agencies have proposed measures to try to rein in prescription painkiller overprescribing. A guideline published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) -- Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain -- and new boxed warning label changes from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) highlight the need to educate health care professionals to address overprescribing of narcotics.

Although the addiction epidemic has been deemed a public health crisis, individual health care providers must take action, too.

The DEA announced mandates to lower the production of powerful prescription opioids that are fueling the epidemic of addiction, overdose, and fatalities.

Abuse-deterrent formulations are being developed, too. However, it's important to remember that the most common way that drugs are abused - simply by swallowing a handful of them - can't be stopped with abuse-deterrent technology.

Flush List. Disposal of Unused Medicines: What You Should Know. US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Revised April 2018. Accessed October 18, 2018 at http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/BuyingUsingMedicineSafely/EnsuringSafeUseofMedicine/SafeDisposalofMedicines/ucm186187.htm#Flush_List

Disposal Act: General Public Fact Sheet. U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). Accessed October 18, 2018 at https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/fact_sheets/disposal_public_06222018.pdf

DEA Brings In Record Number Of Unused Pills During 15th Annual National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). Accessed October 18, 2018 at https://www.dea.gov/press-releases/2018/05/07/dea-brings-record-number-unused-pills-during-15th-annual-national

Khan U, Bloom RA, Nicell JA, et al. Risks associated with the environmental release of pharmaceuticals on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration "flush list". Sci Total Environ. 2017 Dec 31;609:1023-1040. Accessed October 18, 2018 at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28787777

US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Disposal of Unused Medicines: What You Should Know. Accessed October 17, 2018 at https://www.fda.gov/drugs/resourcesforyou/consumers/buyingusingmedicinesafely/ensuringsafeuseofmedicine/safedisposalofmedicines/ucm186187.htm

Get Smart About Drugs: A DEA Resource for Parents, Educators, and Caregivers. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) website. Accessed October 18, 2018 at https://www.getsmartaboutdrugs.gov/content/national-take-back-day

Protect Your Child From Opioid Poisoning. Drugs.com. March 29, 2018. Accessed October 18, 2018 at https://www.drugs.com/news/protect-your-child-opioid-poisoning-69220.html

Drug overdose deaths in the United States continue to increase in 2016. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Opioid Overdose. Understanding the Epidemic. Accessed October 18, 2018 at https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/epidemic/index.html

US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Where and How to Dispose of Unused Medicines. Accessed October 18, 2018 at https://www.drugs.com/fda-consumer/where-and-how-to-dispose-of-unused-medicines-180.html

Walmart Launches Disposal Solution for Opioids, Rx Meds. Drugs.com. Jan 22, 2018. Accessed October 18, 2018 at https://www.drugs.com/news/walmart-launches-disposal-solution-opioids-rx-meds-72631.html

Mulvihill G. Federal budget deal includes $4.6 billion to combat opioid epidemic. The Washington Post. March 25, 2018. Accessed April 12, 2018 at https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/federal-budget-deal-includes-46-billion-to-combat-opioid-epidemic/2018/03/25/0c65bd16-3082-11e8-94fa-32d48460b955_story.html

US Dept. of Justice. DEA. Office of Diversion Control. National Take-Back Initiative. Accessed April 12, 2018 at https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The CBHSQ Report. Nonmedical Use of Prescription Pain Relievers Varies by Race and Ethnicity. June 26, 2015. Accessed October 18, 2018 at http://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/report_1972/Spotlight-1972.pdf

National Institute on Drug Abuse. Monitoring the Future 2017 Survey Results. Updated Dec. 2017. Accessed April 12, 2018 at https://www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/trends-statistics/infographics/monitoring-future-2017-survey-results

See Also

Sources

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

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National Prescription Drug Take Back Day: What's in Your Medicine Cabinet?

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On Saturday, Special Notice - Nevada: Carson City, Washoe County, Douglas County ONLY! Take Back Day is Saturday, October 20, 2018. October 27, 2018 - 10AM to 2PM local time, communities will team up with law enforcement to host the next National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day.

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Edward Williams was a doctor that was arrested for prescribing drugs to drug addicts. The Harrison Act in 1914 stop doctors from giving out heroin and cocaine. But Edward found away around it because the Harrison Act still allowed doctors to give out any drugs they saw fit. He did this because after the patients took the drugs they would function as normal. His actions eventually lead to the closing of his free clinic.  

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Edward Williams was a doctor that was arrested for prescribing drugs to drug addicts. The Harrison Act in 1914 stop doctors from giving out heroin and cocaine. But Edward found away around it because the Harrison Act still allowed doctors to give out any drugs they saw fit. He did this because after the patients took the drugs they would function as normal. His actions eventually lead to the closing of his free clinic.  

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Arnold Rothstein created his own drug in the mid-1920s. His army was made up of military men because he wanted the best of the best. Arnold and his came took over the trade with heroin and cocaine on the eastside. Arnold hated drug addicts just as much as Harry and was only in it for the money. 

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Arnold Rothstein created his own drug in the mid-1920s. His army was made up of military men because he wanted the best of the best. Arnold and his came took over the trade with heroin and cocaine on the eastside. Arnold hated drug addicts just as much as Harry and was only in it for the money. 

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Harry Anslinger was very good at convincing people what was wrong and right. One of the things he convinced people was wrong were Opium Dens. Opium Dens are what Chinese immigrants used to attract and capture Caucasian girls and force them to do sexual things. According to Harry this was their way of making sure their race stayed on top. 

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Harry Anslinger was very good at convincing people what was wrong and right. One of the things he convinced people was wrong were Opium Dens. Opium Dens are what Chinese immigrants used to attract and capture Caucasian girls and force them to do sexual things. According to Harry this was their way of making sure their race stayed on top. 

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Billie Holliday was a jazz singer that was a drug addict and alcoholic. She tried many times to get clean but her addiction to heroin was to strong. Harry Anslinger kept a very close eye on her by hiring people to follow her and report back to him. He did this, so he could arrest her every time she had drugs on her. Her addiction led to her having a short career, as she was no longer allowed to play in jazz bars anymore. 

# data[].attributes.subject
Billie Holliday was a jazz singer that was a drug addict and alcoholic. She tried many times to get clean but her addiction to heroin was to strong. Harry Anslinger kept a very close eye on her by hiring people to follow her and report back to him. He did this, so he could arrest her every time she had drugs on her. Her addiction led to her having a short career, as she was no longer allowed to play in jazz bars anymore. 

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Harry Anslinger ran the Federal Bureau Of Narcotics and was trying to put a stop on people using drugs. One of his main targets to take down was Billie Holliday, who was a jazz singer addicted to heroin. He also fought hard to stop marijuana use. According to the book, Harry claims that marijuana drives people crazy. To make his point he used victor Lacata as an example. Victor is a prisoner in the insane asylum because he killed his family. Harry found out that victor committed that crime after he smoked marijuana and used it to his advantage. 

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Harry Anslinger ran the Federal Bureau Of Narcotics and was trying to put a stop on people using drugs. One of his main targets to take down was Billie Holliday, who was a jazz singer addicted to heroin. He also fought hard to stop marijuana use. According to the book, Harry claims that marijuana drives people crazy. To make his point he used victor Lacata as an example. Victor is a prisoner in the insane asylum because he killed his family. Harry found out that victor committed that crime after he smoked marijuana and used it to his advantage. 