1600 Pounds Of Medication Collected During
Medical City Healthcare hospitals collected more than 1600 pounds of medications during its second “Crush the Crisis” Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, October 23. The events helped raise awareness about the dangers of opioid misuse and proper disposal of medications.
Hundreds of community members in Collin, Dallas, Denton and Tarrant counties safely and anonymously disposed of unused or expired prescription and over-the-counter medications at drive-through events at six Medical City Healthcare hospitals. The “Crush the Crisis” events coincide with the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.
Medical City Healthcare was proud to partner with local law enforcement officers to secure the medications at six Medical City Healthcare hospitals:
- Arlington Police Department - Medical City Arlington
- Dallas Police Department - Medical City Dallas
- Denton and TWU Police Departments - Medical City Denton
- Frisco Police Department - Medical City Frisco
- Irving Police Department - Medical City Las Colinas
- North Richland Hills Police Department - Medical City North Hills
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 81,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in the year ending in May 2020, the highest number recorded in a 12-month period. Experts suggest the acceleration in overdose deaths might be due to stressors related to the disruptions in daily life due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 1 in 5 Texans has experienced an opioid overdose, or knows someone who has, according to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, which has launched a statewide public health effort.
“Caring for our community includes helping to ‘Crush the Crisis’ on drug abuse and opioid addiction,” says Joseph Parra, MD, chief medical officer at Medical City Healthcare. “With the COVID-19 pandemic contributing to stress and depression, it is crucial to remove unused pain medications from homes and to educate the community about the serious threat of opioid misuse.”
Approximately 96 HCA Healthcare facilities at 99 event locations participated in a “Crush the Crisis” opioid take back day in communities across 17 states.
