In an effort to combat the nation's growing opioid crisis, CVS Health recently announced that they will no longer be selling decongestants containing the active ingredient phenylephrine in any of their stores. Phenylephrine is commonly found in over-the-counter medications such as Allegra-D, Sudafed, Tylenol Sinus and more. CVS Health also plans to further reduce the availability of other drugs that contain potentially addictive opioid ingredients such as codeine and oxycodone by the end of 2019. The company is also collaborating with the DEA to restrict the time-frame between refills of these medications to 90 days, and will also implement additional drug disposal units across the country. This announcement by CVS Health comes as a part of their plan to tackle the opioid epidemic, which now affects more than 2 million Americans. CVS Health is joining other retailers that have also taken measures to help reduce opioid abuse, including Walmart, Kroger and Walgreens. Ken C. Martindale, the CEO of CVS Health, mentioned in his statement that this move is an important step towards the company’s mission to improve the health of communities they serve. The move isn’t just limited to CVS locations, it will also be adopted by all the company’s subsidiaries, such as Target, Longs Drugs and Minute Clinic. By removing these medications from the shelves, CVS Health is hoping to prevent the misuse of decongestants that contain phenylephrine. As more retailers join efforts to combat opioid abuse, it’s becoming increasingly easier for people to access needed medications while avoiding potential misuses. With this move by CVS Health, it is evident that the company is doing their part to help fight the opioid crisis.