HARTFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aetna (NYSE: AET) today announced its support for National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. The event held nationally on April 26 offers a safe and easy way for people to dispose of expired and/or unused medicines. Aetna supports this initiative as a way to educate the public about storing and disposing of medication, as well as inform the public about the dangers of prescription drug abuse, misuse, and trafficking of prescription drugs.
“Prescription drug abuse adds billions of dollars in health care, work place, and criminal justice costs each year,” said Ren Elder, head of Pharmacy. “Our priority is educating our members about proper medicine adherence and disposal so they are taking their prescriptions properly and avoiding inappropriate or accidental drug use.”
Leaving medicines on counters or easy-to-reach places can lead to accidental ingestion by small children. Storing prescriptions in medicine cabinets can expose them to unusual heat and moisture, resulting in lost effectiveness.
Aetna has several online tools, mobile applications and information about plans and services to help members better manage their medicines, such as the Aetna Rx Check Program, and activities to help members stay on track with their medicines, such as offering misuse, waste and abuse prevention programs, to their members.
To find a Prescription Drug Take-Back Day collection site, visit www.dea.gov or click here.
About Aetna
Aetna is one of the nation's leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving an estimated 44 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional, voluntary and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental, behavioral health, group life and disability plans, and medical management capabilities, Medicaid health care management services, workers' compensation administrative services and health information technology products and services. Aetna's customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, health care providers, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups and expatriates. For more information, see www.aetna.com.
