According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 7% of women self-reported using prescription opioids during pregnancy and more alarmingly, one in five of those women said they got the opioids from a source other than their doctor or were taking them for a reason other than pain management. With rising rates of infants born with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS), the impacts on both women and their babies is concerning. Read More

Figuring out what to do with unused or expired medication can be a challenge. Yet, keeping it at home can be dangerous to young children and other family members. Data from the 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) showed that more than 5,700 youth “reported using prescription pain relievers without a doctor’s guidance for the first time.” This past month, the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) held its 19th National Take Back Day to encourage the safe and anonymous drop off and disposal of unused prescription medications.  Read More

Ensuring safe, affordable access to needed medications is core to the mission of CSIP and its partners. In the age of COVID-19, this work is even more important. People are putting off health care visits that are needed to prevent or manage chronic health conditions like diabetes and heart disease. To reduce infection and spread, in-person doctor and pharmacy visits are limited, leaving those at greatest risk even more vulnerable. Knowing about the availability of telehealth, prescription delivery services, and ways to safely visit a doctor or pharmacy, can help people continue to access needed care. Read More