CVS Pharmacy announced it will cap opioid prescriptions to seven days for some conditions, effective Feb. 1, 2018, according to NBC News.
Here are five things to know:
1. The CDC reported patients received a 13-day average pill supply in 2006; that number skyrocketed to 18 days in 2015.
2. This move makes CVS the pioneer among national retail pharmacy chains to limit the number of opioids physicians can prescribe.
3. The pharmacy giant is also mandating pharmacists discuss addiction risks, storage security and disposal processes with patients receiving opioids.
4. CVS will determine restrictions based on opioid strength.
5. The pharmacy giant is also investing an additional $2 million for medication-assisted treatment programs in community health centers.