CVS Pharmacy is changing how it fills painkiller prescriptions in an effort to prevent opioid addictions.
The company is expected to announce a policy change Thursday making it so pharmacists will only give a 7-day dose of painkillers for new patients with an actuate ailment. That includes patients who had surgery and are expected to have a short recovery.
Under the policy change CVS pharmacists can ask doctors to revise a prescription if they find it’s more than what a patient needs for recovery. When patients pick up painkillers, pharmacists will now warn them of addiction risks and encourage them to take the medication for a shorter period of time.
As one of the country’s biggest pharmacies, CVS is hoping these changes will have a ripple effect getting more doctors to rethink how they prescribe painkillers.
That could make a big difference in Michigan which is one of the states where the most painkiller prescriptions are written, according to the CDC.
Since another big cause of opioid addictions is from extra painkillers someone leaves sitting in a medicine cabinet, CVS will also add safe disposal sites at many stores.