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How Missouri contributes to Walgreens’ massive drug collection program

Walgreens announced this week it has collected and disposed of more than 885 tons of medication collected through its disposal kiosk program since it launched in 2016. And thanks to a 2018 Senate bill, Missouri is able to participate in the program designed to combat the opioid epidemic. 

Missouri was the 46th state — out of 46 — to jump into Walgreen’s program. 

The company did not track just how much of the collected medication came from the Show-Me State, but Missouri did participate. There are 14 Walgreens stores across the state with a disposal kiosk. 

  • Arnold — 3937 Vogel Road
  • Bridgeton — 12345 Saint Charles Rock Road
  • Cape Girardeau — 1 S. Kingshighway Street
  • Jefferson City — 2002 Missouri Boulevard 
  • Kansas City — 3845 Broadway Street
  • Kansas City — 2630 NE Vivion Road
  • Kirkwood — 441 N. Kirkwood Road
  • Richmond Heights — 6733 Clayton Road
  • St. Louis — 3920 Hampton Avenue
  • St. Louis — 12098 Lusher Road
  • Springfield — 2640 E. Sunshine Street
  • Springfield — 2951 S. Campbell Avenue 
  • Washington — 890 Washington Corners
  • Wentzville — 1993 Wentzville Parkway

 

“We are proud to be the leader in making ‘drug take back day’ available every day, just as we are grateful to the organizations across the health care community who have joined us to address the opioid epidemic,” Rick Gates, senior vice president of pharmacy and health care with Walgreens, said in a statement. 

In June 2018, SB 826 from Republican Sen. David Sater was signed into law. It allowed Drug Enforcement Agency-authorized collectors to accept controlled substances for disposal. 

Walgreens began placing its disposal kiosks in Missouri in December 2018. 

Missourians who do not live near one of the 14 participating stores can still use Walgreens to dispose of unwanted medication. All of the chain’s pharmacies can provide free disposal options.

Last month, the Missouri Board of Pharmacy opened applications for law enforcement agencies, hospitals, and other clinics wishing to collect and send unwanted medication to a Texas-based waste management company contracted by the state. 

The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is Oct. 26.