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HCA Healthcare launches opioid take-back day on Sept 7

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In an effort to fight the opioid epidemic, the national hospital chain, HCA Healthcare, has launched an opioid take-back day event.

Called “Crush the Crisis,” the event is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 7 nationwide, involving 65 HCA hospitals in 15 states, including Florida.

You can take your unused or expired prescription medications to one of the locations and drop them off anonymously.

“Every day, hospitals across the country treat patients for opioid overdose in emergency rooms. Take back events are vital to helping prevent drug overdose, controlling illicit drug use and curbing our nation’s opioid crisis,” said Dr. Michael Schlosser, vice president of clinical excellence and surgical services at HCA Healthcare, in a news release.

The health system has launched other initiatives to combat the crisis by using big data. It’s physicians have access to an aggregated electronic health records so they can spot patients who may be doctor-shopping. It is also implementing a program to encourage alternatives to opioids by using two or more methods or medications to reduce the need for opioids for patients who are in the ER or recovering from surgery.

“The abuse of prescription drugs too often starts when family or friends obtain medications from home medicine cabinets. We urge people to take three simple steps: clean out your medicine cabinet, collect medications that are no longer needed and safely dispose of them at one of our ‘Crush the Crisis’ take back locations,” said Joanne Pulles, vice president of community engagement at HCA Healthcare and president of The HCA Foundation, in a news release.
The following locations in Central Florida are participating in the event: Baldwin Park ER, Heathrow ER and Poinciana Medical Center.

For a complete list of locations, visit hcahealthcare.com/campaigns/crush-the-crisis.

If you miss Saturday’s event, you can take your unwanted medications to one of the locations participating in the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Oct. 26. To find a location near you, visit takebackday.dea.gov.

nmiller@orlandosentinel.com.

By Naseem S. Miller. Originally posted on Orlando Sentinel