HCA Midwest Health
October 31, 2022

HCA Midwest Health, Kansas City’s largest healthcare provider, and its family of hospitals hosted its annual “Crush the Crisis” national opioid take back day to raise awareness about the dangers of opioid misuse and the importance of safe and proper disposal of unused or expired medications. The event is a part of HCA Healthcare’s fourth annual national “Crush the Crisis” opioid take back day. The event coincides with the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day and invites the community to safely dispose of unused or expired medication before they may be obtained and misused.

Last year, 96 HCA Healthcare facilities in 17 states collected 15,566 pounds of unused and expired prescription medications at “Crush the Crisis” events across the nation. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 107,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2021, almost a 15% increase from 2020.

“Prescription drug misuse is a public health crisis in the United States and a significant number of opioid addiction and overdose deaths come from individuals accessing unused opioids from family and friends,” says HCA Midwest Health Chief Medical Officer Kimberly Megow, MD. “We invite the community to dispose of unused and expired medications properly and anonymously, and help us spread awareness and education about the serious threat of opioid misuse.”