EVERFI and Walmart Offer “Safe & Well” Free Online Prescription Safety and Mental Wellness Resource

New interactive learning resource launched in October to mark National Substance Abuse Prevention Month and National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month

BENTONVILLE, Ark. & WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Walmart today marked the start of National Substance Abuse Prevention Month and National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month with the launch of a new website that is an interactive learning solution with access to prescription drug safety and mental health resources. Safe & Well is free to anyone through Walmart’s relationship with leading social-impact education innovator EVERFI, Inc.

Prescription drug misuse and mental health challenges have been exacerbated in recent months as the COVID-19 crisis has increased stress and social isolation. A recent CDC survey found nearly 31% of respondents reported symptoms of anxiety or depression, and 13% said they had started or increased substance use “to cope with stress or emotions related to COVID-19.” Walmart’s new wellness resource provides associates, patients, caregivers, and community members with necessary information to better understand the risks of prescription medication misuse and the connections to mental health.

“We are seeing people struggle with unprecedented levels of personal stress and restricted access to support networks in communities across the country as a result of the pandemic, which can ultimately compromise health and many other important aspects of people’s lives. Our hope is that the new Safe & Well tool will be an accessible and valuable source of information for people at risk of prescription drug misuse and those who care about them,” said Dr. Thomas Van Gilder, Walmart’s Chief Medical Officer.

Safe & Well uses videos, interactive scenarios and self-guided activities covering topics like:

• Reading and understanding a prescription bottle label and medication guide
• Responsible use, storage and disposal of prescription medication
• Recognizing opioid misuse and opioid use disorder
• Mental health awareness
• Strategies for seeking support for a mental health challenge
• Coping techniques

“Our country is at a crossroads with declining life expectancy due to suicide and drug overdoses,” said Jon Chapman, co-founder and president, EVERFI. “Mental wellness and prescription drug misuse are impacting communities across the country and there has never been a more critical time to focus on investing in the health of these communities. These issues are intertwined and not only can addressing them improve the economy of a community, but it can truly save a life by providing consumers with the information they need in the moment they need it.”

The extension of this offering is part of Walmart’s commitment to providing associates and community members with prevention education and resources to live healthier lives. This work is made available through their strategic partnership with EVERFI and the Prescription Drug Safety Network. Walmart joined the Prescription Drug Safety Network, a national coalition committed to empowering Americans with the skills and knowledge to make safe decisions about prescription medications through digital education, in 2017. Through its work with the Prescription Drug Safety Network, Walmart has been able to bring this critical education to more than 45,000 high school students across the United States.

Safe & Well can be found by visiting https://walmart.everfi-next.net.

About Walmart

Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) helps people around the world save money and live better - anytime and anywhere - in retail stores, online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, over 265 million customers and members visit approximately 11,500 stores under 56 banners in 27 countries and eCommerce websites. With fiscal year 2020 revenue of $524 billion, Walmart employs over 2.2 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting corporate.walmart.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/walmart and on Twitter at twitter.com/walmart.

About EVERFI, Inc.

EVERFI is an international technology company driving social change through education to address the most challenging issues affecting society ranging from financial wellness to prescription drug safety to workplace conduct and other critical topics. Founded in 2008, EVERFI is fueled by its Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) community engagement platform and has reached more than 41 million learners globally. Recognized as one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company in 2020, EVERFI powers community engagement in a sustained manner to empower individuals and organizations to make an impact within their communities. Some of America’s leading CEOs and venture capital firms are EVERFI investors including Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos, Google Chairman Eric Schmidt, Twitter founder Evan Williams, as well as Advance, Rethink Education, Rethink Impact, The Rise Fund, and TPG Growth. To learn more about EVERFI and how you can #answerthecall please visit everfi.com or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or Twitter @EVERFI.