Senate leader visits Walgreens store in Chicago

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Sen. Dick Durbin (D., Ill.), assistant minority leader in the U.S. Senate, visited a Walgreens store in Chicago as the drug chain continued its nationwide rollout of medication disposal kiosks to help fight drug abuse and misuse.

Sen. Dick Durbin (D., Ill.) with Walgreens’ Alex Gourlay.

Walgreens said Durbin’s visit Monday to its 111 S. Halsted St. store marked the launch of its drug take-back kiosk program in Illinois, where it deployed units in 45 of its drug stores. The kiosks provide a safe, convenient way for customers to dispose of unwanted, unused or expired prescriptions, including controlled substances, and over-the-counter medications at no cost.

“Combating the prescription opioid and heroin epidemic will require an all-hands-on-deck solution. That’s why I commend Walgreens for its proactive commitment to get addictive pills out of our medicine cabinets when they are no longer needed,” Durbin said at the event. “With four out of five new heroin users starting off by misusing prescription opioids, we must do more to prevent addiction before it takes hold. I urge other stakeholders — from drug companies to state and federal agencies — to take responsibility and do their part to address opioid addiction and save lives.”

Walgreens announced in February that it plans to install safe medication disposal kiosks at more than 500 of its stores across the country. So far, disposal units have been deployed in over 300 Walgreens pharmacies in 24 states.

“By making safe medication disposal kiosks available in select Illinois stores and expanding to other states this year, Walgreens is taking an important first step to help reduce the misuse of medications throughout the country,” stated Alex Gourlay, co-chief operating officer of Walgreens Boots Alliance. “We are committed to doing our part in not only our home state, but other states as well, and being part of a comprehensive solution to reverse this epidemic.”