TriStar Health collects over 1,200 pounds of medication during ‘Crush the Crisis’
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – More than 1,200 pounds of unused medications are out of home cabinets, potentially preventing prescription drug misuse, according to TriStar Health.
According to a release, TriStar Health facilities in middle Tennessee took part in the eighth annual “Crush the Crisis” prescription drug take back events on Saturday, Oct. 24.
TriStar says with support of local law enforcement, 15 of its locations participated, giving a safe and anonymous way to dispose of unwanted prescription medicines.
“We are proud of our communities for showing up and taking action to help prevent prescription drug misuse,” said Ajit Singh, MD, chief medical officer at TriStar Health. “While Tennessee is seeing encouraging declines in overdose deaths, there is still important work to be done. By safely disposing of more than 1,200 pounds of medication, we’re helping keep unused prescriptions out of the wrong hands and making a meaningful impact on the health and safety of our communities.”
Crush the Crisis began in Nashville in 2017 when Jeffery Hodrick, MD, an orthopaedic surgeon at Southern Joint Replacement Institute, and his nurse navigator recognized a chance to help patients safely dispose of unused medications following surgery, TriStar Health states.
Since its inception, Crush the Crisis has collected more than 108,500 pounds of unused and expired medications across HCA Healthcare, the release states.
