Google Maps Helping Combat the Opioid Crisis


Posted: 03/06/2019
Category: HIT


In 2017, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) declared the opioid crisis a public health emergency, with over 130 Americans dying every day from opioid-related drug overdoses.  Last month, Google saw that search queries for “medication disposal near me” reached an all-time high on Google.

53 percent of prescription drug abuse starts with drugs obtained from others including family or friends. Google partnered with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for National Prescription Take Back Day by developing a Google Maps API  locator tool to help people dispose of their prescription drugs at temporary locations twice a year. With the help of this tool, the DEA and its local partners collected a record 1.85 million pounds of unused prescription drugs in 2018.

This new mapping service makes it easier for Americans to quickly find disposal locations on Google Maps and search at any time. A search for queries like “drug drop off near me” or “medication disposal near me” will display permanent disposal locations at your local pharmacy, hospital or government building so you can quickly and safely discard your unused medication.

To use the Google Maps API locator tool, please click here.

Contact RXdisposal-data@google.com today if you have any questions or comments.





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