Chattanooga, TN — Parkridge Health System announced that it is hosting its annual medication take back event to raise awareness about the dangers of opioid misuse and proper disposal of medications.
The event, “Crush the Crisis,” will take place at Parkridge Camp Jordan ER, 843 Camp Jordan Pkwy, Chattanooga, TN on October 28th from 10am-2pm.
“Crush the Crisis” aligns with the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day and invites community members to safely and anonymously dispose of unused or expired prescription medications. Parkridge is working in partnership with the Hamilton County Coalition, along with law enforcement and other local organizations, to provide safe disposal locations on that date.
“Disposing of expired or unused medications properly and safely could mean saving a life,” Dr. John Marshall, an emergency medicine physician at Parkridge Medical Center, said. “Parkridge is happy to join our fellow HCA hospitals across the nation October 28th to host this important initiative to curb opioid abuse in the community.”
Local law enforcement officers will be on hand collecting tablets, capsules and patches of Hydrocodone (Norco, Lortab, Vicodin), Oxycodone (Oxycontin, Percocet), Tramadol (Ultram), Codeine, Fentanyl (Duragesic), Morphine, Hydromorphone (Dilaudid) and Oxymorphone (Opana). All medications are accepted. Needles, syringes, lancets, inhalers or liquids will not be accepted.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention estimates that there were 109,680 drug overdose deaths in the United States in 2022, a slight increase from 109,179 in 2021.
Learn more about the nationwide “Crush the Crisis” initiative.