OVERLAND PARK, KAN. — HCA Midwest Health is hosting its fifth annual “Crush the Crisis” prescription drug take back day – an event to raise awareness about the dangers of prescription drug misuse and the importance of safe and proper disposal of unused or expired medications – on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. The event, which coincides with the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, offers the community an opportunity to safely and anonymously dispose of medications that may be left over from previous procedures or other medical visits.
“We feel it is crucial to bring awareness to the dangers of drug misuse and abuse as the nationwide drug overdose epidemic continues to grow,” said Kimberly Megow, MD, chief medical officer of HCA Midwest Health. “According to the Department of Health and Human Services, more than 2,500 drug-related overdose deaths occurred in Kansas and Missouri in 2022. Tragically, more than 70% of these deaths were caused by synthetic opioids like illicit fentanyl. As a part of our commitment to the community, we are proud to support and help educate the community on the proper disposal of medications and reverse these alarming statistics in our community.”
As a part of their commitment to combat prescription drug misuse, HCA Healthcare, the parent company of HCA Midwest Health, has worked with the National Academy of Medicine’s (NAM) Action Collaborative on Countering the U.S. Opioid Epidemic. HCA Healthcare has given $750,000 to the Collaborative to support the development of safer pain management protocols and the reversal of the opioid crisis.
As a learning health system, HCA Healthcare uses data from approximately 37 million annual patient encounters to help continuously improve care. The organization uses the science of “big data” to reduce prescription drug misuse and transform pain management, with initiatives in surgical, emergency, and other care settings, including:
- Enhanced Surgical Recovery (ESR): a multi-modal approach to pain management using pre-, intra- and post-operative interventions to optimize outcomes. HCA Healthcare’s ESR programs have demonstrated significant improvements in surgical recovery and patient satisfaction, including an up to 44% decrease in opioid usage for some surgeries.
- Electronic Prescribing of Controlled Substances (EPCS): aims to stem increasing rates of prescription pain reliever-related addiction, misuse diversion and death by making it more difficult for medication-seekers to doctor-shop and alter prescriptions. Physicians have access to aggregated electronic health records, providing data that will allow them to prescribe opioids judiciously.
WHY:
Prescription drug misuse is a public health crisis in the United States. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 109,170 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2022, an increase from 2021.
According to the Department of Health and Human Services, more than 2,500 drug-related overdose deaths occurred in Kansas and Missouri in 2022. Tragically, more than 70% of these deaths were caused by synthetic opioids like illicit fentanyl. A significant number of drug addictions and overdose deaths come from individuals accessing unused medications from family and friends.
WHO: HCA Midwest Health Hospitals
Belton Regional Medical Center, Lee’s Summit Medical Center, Menorah Medical Center, Overland Park Regional Medical Center’s ER of Shawnee and Research Medical Center’s ER of Brookside.
Employees, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists and staff, and members of area police departments invite community members to safely dispose of unused medications.
WHAT: Crush the Crisis – Prescription Drug Take Back Day
The event aims to educate the community on the risk of prescription drug misuse while providing a safe and anonymous way to dispose of medications that may be left over from previous procedures or other medical visits.
HCA Midwest Health is participating as part of HCA Healthcare’s fifth annual national “Crush the Crisis” prescription take back day. Last year, more than 100 HCA Healthcare facilities from all 15 U.S. divisions partnered with local law enforcement to collect and safely dispose of 19,423 pounds of medication — an estimated 13.4 million doses — which is the highest amount collected of any Crush the Crisis event to date.
Law enforcement officers will collect: 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 leak-proof containers) and vape cartridges (without batteries) and pet medications will also be accepted.
Any medications are accepted; however, needles, syringes, lancets, or liquids will not be accepted.
WHEN:
10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, October 28, 2023
WHERE:
Belton Regional Medical Center, 17065 US-71, Belton, MO 64012
The collection site will be conveniently located at the hospital’s Visitor Entrance. In partnership with Belton Police Department.
Lee’s Summit Medical Center, 2100 S.E. Blue Pkwy, Lee’s Summit, MO 64063
The collection site will be conveniently located in front of the ER entrance. In partnership with Lee’s Summit Police Department.
Menorah Medical Center, 5721 W 119th Street, Overland Park, KS 66209
Proceed to Entrance D drive thru drop off. In partnership with the Overland Park Police Department.
Overland Park Regional Medical Center’s ER of Shawnee ,10310 W 63rd St, Shawnee, KS 66203
The collection site includes a convenient drive-thru medication drop-off option located at the ER of Shawnee located at 10310 W 63rd St, Shawnee, KS 66203. Please follow event signs to the drive-thru medication drop-off location.
Research Medical Center’s ER of Brookside, 6675 Holmes St., Kansas City, MO 64131
The collection site includes a convenient drive-thru medication drop-off option located at the ER of Brookside located at 6675 Holmes St., Kansas City, MO 64131. Please follow event signs to the drive-thru medication drop-off location.