Special to the WJH Memorial Satilla Health stages its annual “Crush the Crisis” prescription drug take back day from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, October 24, at the YMCA of Waycross parking lot, 1634 Plant Avenue.
The event is to help make safe medication disposal more accessible and raise awareness about the dangers of prescription drug misuse. It coincides with the Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day The community has an opportunity to safely and anonymously dispose of medications to help prevent misuse. The hospital is partnering with Pierce County Sheriff’s Office and Ware County Sheriff’s Office to operate the session.
“Unused medication can easily be forgotten in a cabinet or drawer, but safely disposing of them is an important step we can all take to keep our communities safer,” said Nick Linde, pharmacy director at Memorial Satilla. “Through ‘Crush the Crisis,’ we’re proud to give our community a safe, anonymous and convenient way to take that step and help create a healthier tomorrow for Ware and Pierce counties.”
MSH’s participation is part of HCA Healthcare’s eighth annual national “Crush the Crisis” prescription drug take back. Since 2019, HCA Healthcare affiliates have helped safely dispose of more than 108,500 pounds of unused or expired medication.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, an estimated 7.2 million people age 12 or older misused prescription pain relievers in 2025.
Deputies from Ware and Pierce Sheriff’s Offices will be collecting tablets, capsules and patches of Hydrocodone (Norco, Lortab, Vicodin), Oxycodone (Oxycontin, Percocet), Tramadol (Ultram), Codeine, Fentanyl (Duragesic), Morphine, Hydromorphone (Dilaudid) and Oxymorphone (Opana).
Ointments, lotions, drops, liquid medication in leakproof containers, vape cartridges without batteries, pet and any other medication also will be accepted. Needles, syringes, lancets or liquids will not be accepted.
As a part of its commitment to combat prescription drug misuse, HCA Healthcare has worked with the National Academy of Medicine’s (NAM) Action Collaborative on Countering the U.S. Opioid Epidemic.
Comments