Six of HCA Healthcare’s North Florida Division facilities, including two in Osceola County, will host opioid “take back” events on Saturday to raise awareness about the dangers of opioid misuse and proper disposal of medications.
Poinciana Medical Center (325 Cypress Pkwy.) and ChampionsGate Emergency (8460 Champions Gate Blvd.) will take part in “Crush the Crisis,” which supports the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Those in the community are invited to safely and anonymously dispose of unused or expired prescription medications.
Local law enforcement officers will be present at the designated sites collecting tablets, capsules and patches of Hydrocodone (Norco, Lortab, Vicodin), Oxycodone (Oxycontin, Percocet), Tramadol (Ultram), Codeine, Fentanyl (Duragesic), Morphine, Hydromorphone (Dilaudid) and Oxymorphone (Opana). Needles, syringes, lancets or liquids will not be accepted. COVID-19 safety protocols will be in place at all collection sites, including universal masking and social distancing. Drivethrough collection options are also available. According to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 70,630 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2019, with more than 70 percent attributed to opioids. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the U.S. is seeing an increase in opioid usage, and it is possible that a significant number of opioid addictions and overdose deaths come from individuals accessing unused opioid prescription medications of family and friends.
In October 2020, 95 HCA Healthcare facilities in 18 states collected 13,523 pounds of unused and expired prescription medications at “Crush the Crisis” events around the country.
For more information, visit hcahealthcare.com/crushthecrisis or call 833-582-1970.
