CVS Will Limit Opioid Prescriptions to a Seven-Day Supply, Starting in 2018

CVS Will Limit Opioid Prescriptions to a Seven-Day Supply, Starting in 2018

It’s the first time a nationwide retail chain is restricting the amount of pain killers doctors can prescribe.

The opioid epidemic rages on in the U. S. Here are some facts to shake your head at.

According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine, drug overdose is currently the leading cause of accidental death in the country.

Over 2.5 million Americans are presently addicted to either prescription pain relievers or heroin, both of which contain opioids, and in 2015 well over 30,000 overdose deaths occurred.

Related: 5 Alternatives to Pain Medication

Between 1999 and 2008, the sale of prescription pain relievers paralleled the overdose death rate. Both quadrupled in that time. One can only imagine that the relationship is continuing as we speak.

In light of these realities, CVC Pharmacy has announced this week that it will begin limited opioid prescriptions to a seven-day supply for certain conditions.

It’s a brave and admirable step for the pharmacy to take. The company is the first national retail chain to restrict the amount of painkillers doctors can prescribe to patients at one time.

Related: Here’s Why Women Experience More Pain Than Men

According to NBCnews.com, a spokesperson from the National Institute on Drug Abuse has stated:

“… the move is a major part of the multi-dimensional solution needed to conquer opioid abuse and a long awaited step in the right direction.”

The company plans to roll out the initiatives starting February 1, 2018.

Interestingly, CVS was also the first large retail pharmacy chain to stop selling cigarettes in 2014. The pharmacy is now hoping to play a key role in changing the path of the opioid epidemic in the United States.

Photo credits: p.lange/Bigstock.com

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