Dold Joins Walgreens, White House to Launch New Nation-Wide Efforts to Combat Drug Abuse

Press Release

U.S. Congressman Robert Dold (IL-10)--along with White House Drug Policy Director Michael Botticelli, U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL), Lake County State's Attorney Michael Nerheim and Drug Enforcement Administration Deputy Assistant Administrator Lou Milione--today joined Walgreens in unveiling a multi-state program to combat opioid abuse in the United States.

"Nearly one-quarter of people who try heroin become addicted, and their addiction frequently starts with recreational use of the kind of drugs that people too often leave lying around in medicine cabinets," Rep. Dold said. "But the statistics don't even begin to tell the whole story. As a co-chair of the Suburban Anti-Heroin Task Force in Illinois, I've seen firsthand how these drugs destroy families. That's why I've been working with local leaders and businesses, such as Walgreens, to find common-sense solutions to curb drug abuse, and in the coming days we'll also be introducing new legislation that will help save lives."

Heroin deaths have doubled in the United States in less than a decade. Heroin users frequently say the gateway to their drug addiction was taking a friend or relative's prescription drugs, with nearly one-third of first-time heroin users having began by taking prescription drugs recreationally. In the first ongoing national effort of its kind by a retailer, Walgreens will install safe medication disposal kiosks in more than 500 drugstores, including in Illinois. The program will make the disposal of medications -- including opioids and other controlled substances -- easier and more convenient while helping to reduce the misuse of medications and the rise in overdose deaths.

At the event, Rep. Dold shared the story of Stevenson High School graduate Alex Laliberte. Laliberte played sports at Stevenson, did well in school and cared about his friends an family. But during his sophomore year of college he began being hospitalized for a mysterious illness. Unknown to his family and doctors, Laliberte had an addiction to prescription drugs and was being hospitalized for his withdrawal. He would stay in the hospital until he received his fix and repeat the cycle. Laliberte continued this pattern until he died of a heroin overdose a few days before his final exams.

In his memory, the Laliberte family founded Live4Lali in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Along with Live4Lali, Lake County State's Attorney Michael Nerheim and the Lake County Opioid Initiative, Rep. Dold has been working to increase access to a life-saving overdose antidote called naloxone. When used, naloxone helps restore breathing that has been stopped by an overdose. Following this partnership, naloxone has saved nearly 50 lives in Lake County in the past year. The FDA recently approved naloxone in nasal spray form following advocacy efforts by Rep. Dold. With increased access, the World Health Organization predicts naloxone could save another 20,000 lives every year.

"Today's announcement is an example of what can happen when people come together to create change," Live4Lali co-founder Chelsea Laliberte said. "I am so proud of my Lake County Opioid Initiative partners for their persistence in seeing this program through. This is for those who we've lost and those who are still struggling. It is in their honor that these programs were created to prevent future initiations to drug use, harm and unnecessary death."

Walgreens will make naloxone available without a prescription at its pharmacies in 35 states, including Illinois, and Washington, D.C. When implementation of the program is complete, naloxone will be available without a prescription in more than 5,800 of Walgreens nearly 8,200 stores.

"Walgreens pharmacists play an important role in counseling patients on the safe use of their medications, and now we are leading the way in retail pharmacy's fight against prescription drug abuse," Walgreens President of Pharmacy and Retail Operations Richard Ashworth said. "We understand the challenges our communities face, and we stand ready to help our patients and customers lead healthier lives. When the stakes are this high, the solutions must be comprehensive."

"Our office is working tirelessly to increase awareness of the dangers of drug overdose in Lake County," Lake County State's Attorney Nerheim said. "Now, Walgreens is an important partner in helping to bring change to our community, one I've called home my entire life."

Rep. Dold is a co-chair of the Suburban Anti-Heroin Task Force in Illinois. He has recently taken numerous other actions to increase resources for combatting substance abuse, including:

Increasing funding for Drug Free Communities Grants by $9 million to $95 million.
Funding substance abuse treatment at $2.1 billion.
Funding substance abuse prevention at $200 million, including money to prevent opioid related deaths.
Funding efforts to combat prescription drug abuse at $372 million.

In partnership with Live4Lali, Rep. Dold will also be unveiling new legislation aimed at combating heroin abuse in the coming weeks.

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