Area TriStar Health hospitals is partnering with local law enforcement to host “Crush the Crisis” opioid take back day Saturday, Sept 7 10am – 2pm. The community is invited to safely and anonymously dispose of unused or expired prescription medications at participating TriStar Health hospitals.
The opioid crisis has been declared a public health emergency. Every day, more than 130 people in the United States die from opioid-related drug overdoses. The misuse of prescription opioids often begins when they are obtained from a friend or family member’s medicine cabinet. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, in 2017, there were 1,269 overdose deaths involving opioids in Tennessee—a rate of 19.3 deaths per 100,000 persons, which is higher than the national rate of 14.6 deaths per 100,000 persons. Kentucky is among the top ten states with the highest opioid-related overdose deaths. In 2017, there were 1,160 reported opioid-involved deaths in Kentucky—a rate of 27.9 deaths per 100,000 persons, compared to the average national rate of 14.6 deaths per 100,000 persons.
Accepted medications include: tablets, capsules and patches of Hydrocodone (Norco, Lortab, Vicodin), Oxycodone (Oxycontin, Percocet), Tramadol (Ultram), Codeine, Fentanyl (Duragesic), Morphine, Hydromorphone (Dilaudid) and Oxymorphone (Opana). We will not be able to accept needles, syringes, lancets, inhalers or liquids.
Locally, “Crush the Crisis” will take place at TriStar Stonecrest Medical Center at 200 StoneCrest Boulevard, Smyrna, TN 37167
