Giving Compass' Take:

• Google is partnering with agencies and companies to determine drop-off locations in the U.S. for people to dispose of leftover pain pills and other addictive drugs in an innovative effort to combat our opioid epidemic. 

• How can other large companies do their part to fight the opioid epidemic in America? 

• Learn about upstream solutions for the opioid crisis. 

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.

"By bringing opioid disposal site information to Google Maps, Americans are only a search away from helping to address the opioid crisis," Health and Human Services (HHS) chief technology officer Ed Simcox said in a statement. "This type of consumer empowerment--providing easily accessible data--is the kind of innovation needed to improve healthcare."

Read the full article about Google helping the fight against opioid epidemic by Emily Birnbaum at The Hill