Google Launches ‘Drug Drop Offs Near Me’ Initiative To Help People Find Places To Dispose Of Their Opioids

The Hill: Google Launches Effort To Fight Opioid Epidemic 
Google is launching a new effort Thursday to make it easier for people to dispose of opioids. Federal agencies, state governments and local pharmacies helped Google identify 3,500 drug drop-off locations across the country where people are invited to dispose of leftover pain pills and other addictive drugs. Now, using Google Maps or search, users can look up phrases similar to "drug drop off near me” or “medication disposal near me" and find directions to the nearest permanent disposal locations. (Birnbaum, 2/21)

Bloomberg: Google Maps Searches Will Show Opioid Disposal Sites 
The internet-search giant has joined with U.S. government agencies and drug-store chains like CVS Health Corp. and Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. to pinpoint places where patients can drop off leftover medication. Google searches such as “drug drop off near me” will bring up locations from a database of 3,500 sites in seven states as part of the pilot program. That number will grow as the program expands, Google said Thursday in a blog post. Opioid abuse now accounts for more deaths in the U.S. than car crashes or firearms, and much of the problem stems from legally prescribed drugs that are used by family members or friends of patients. By making it easier for people to safely get rid of unused prescription drugs, the company hopes to stop them from getting into the wrong hands. (De Vynck, 2/21)

In other news on the national drug crisis —

Los Angeles Times: Southern California Doctors Arrested In Opioid Prescription Crackdown
A yearlong investigation by federal drug agents has resulted in criminal charges against several physicians and other healthcare providers accused of writing bogus prescriptions or selling painkillers and other drugs on the black market. Dubbed Operation Hypocritical Oath — a play on the Hippocratic oath taken by doctors — the investigation targeted dozens of healthcare professionals in California, Nevada and Hawaii, many of whom came under suspicion because records showed they were prescribing an unusual amount of narcotics, said Bill Bodner, deputy special agent in charge for the Drug Enforcement Agency in Los Angeles. (Rubin, 2/21)

Politico Pro: Cuomo’s Opioid Tax Faces Familiar Opposition From Pharmacists, Hospices
Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s plan to reconfigure the state’s charge on opioid suppliers is running into some of the same opposition it did when a similar version was proposed last year. The new proposal comes weeks after a federal court struck down the Opioid Stewardship Act, enacted as part of last year’s budget. It would have imposed a surcharge on companies that manufacture and distribute opioids in the state, based on their market share within New York, totaling $100 million annually for six years. (Niedzwiadek, 2/21)

Miami Herald: Addicts, Activists Push For Needle Exchange To Expand In Florida
IDEA doctors work from their main location at 1690 NW Seventh Ave., out of a van they drive to Liberty City once a week, and even on foot with backpacks in Florida City. They give out naloxone, a lifesaving drug that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose. They distribute condoms, and provide anonymous HIV testing and antiretroviral drugs. (Flechas, 2/21)

Arizona Republic: Arizona One Step Closer To Legalizing Needle Exchanges
An Arizona legislative panel on Wednesday kept alive a proposed law that would help people struggling with drug addiction by decriminalizing needle exchanges. The House State and International Affairs Committee passed a "strike everything" amendment to legalize needle exchanges in Arizona in an 8-0 vote. The vote followed testimony from public-health officials about how needle exchanges help prevent the spread of blood-borne infections such as HIV and hepatitis C. (Innes, 2/21)