HCA Healthcare hosts drug take-back event in Fort Walton Beach and Navarre

FORT WALTON BEACH — Some local healthcare providers will be hosting a drug take-back event that aims to inform the public about the dangers of drug misuse and advocate for proper medicine disposal.

HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital and HCA Florida Navarre Emergency recently announced that they will host a "Crush the Crisis" event on Saturday, Oct. 26. The event coincides with the Drug Enforcement Administration's National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, which allows communities across the country to dispose of medications safely and anonymously.

According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, national drug overdose deaths in the U.S. decreased for the first time since 2018. Still, prescription drug misuse remains a public health issue.

“For more than 50 years, HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital has cared for the tri-county area, and our Crush the Crisis prescription take-back day is a testament to this commitment,” said Dr. Dan Hagler, chief medical officer of HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital, in a news release. “By providing a safe and anonymous way to dispose of medications, we are reducing the risk of misuse and helping to create healthier tomorrows for our community.”

The event will be HCA Healthcare's sixth annual national prescription drug take-back day. Last year, over 120 HCA Healthcare facilities partnered with local law enforcement and collected over 13,136 pounds of unused or expired medications, which is equal to 9.02 million doses.

Law enforcement officers from the Fort Walton Beach Police Department and the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office will collect tablets, capsules, and patches of prescription opioids, including Hydrocodone (Norco, Lortab, Vicodin), Oxycodone (Oxycontin, Percocet), Tramadol (Ultram), Codeine, Fentanyl (Duragesic), Morphine, Hydromorphone (Dilaudid), and Oxymorphone (Opana). Ointments, lotions, liquid medications in leak-proof containers, vape cartridges without batteries, and pet medications will also be accepted.

However, needles, syringes, lancets, and certain liquids will not be accepted.

The “Crush the Crisis” event will be held at two locations:

• HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital: 1000 Mar Walt Drive, Fort Walton Beach, from 9 a.m. to noon.
• HCA Florida Navarre Emergency: 1809 Granada Street, Navarre, from 9 a.m. to noon.

For more information, visit hcahealthcare.com/crushthecrisis or call toll-free at (833) 582-1970.

This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: HCA Healthcare hosts drug take-back event in Fort Walton Beach and Navarre