RICHMOND, Virginia (Legal Newsline) — Virginia Attorney General Mark R. Herring recently issued a statement after Walgreens announced it would take additional steps to combat heroin and prescription drug abuse.
Walgreens plans to install medication disposal kiosks and make a live-saving overdose antidote, naloxone, available in-store in the state.
"This is a huge step forward in stemming the tide of fatal heroin and prescription drug overdoses in the commonwealth,” Herring said. “I thank and commend Walgreens for being proactive and I encourage more pharmacies to take advantage of the new Virginia law that allows for distribution of naloxone without a prescription.”
Herring further noted that more than 700 Virginians died last year due to heroin or prescription drug overdose. Many of these citizens could still be alive if naloxone had been administered in time.
"Last year we brought forward bipartisan legislation to significantly expand the availability of naloxone,” Herring said. “Because of that bill, and the great input of legislators and the governor's office, every law enforcement agency in Virginia can now carry naloxone, and this life-saving overdose antidote is available without a prescription in many pharmacies.”