October 16, 2021

Lee’s Summit Medical Center is hosting its third annual “Crush the Crisis” Opioid Take Back Day to raise awareness about the dangers of opioid misuse and proper disposal of medications. Community members are invited to dispose of unused or expired prescription medications safely and anonymously from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 23 at 2100 SE Blue Pkwy. in Lee’s Summit.

The event aligns with the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Part of HCA Midwest Health, Kansas City’s leading healthcare provider, Lee’s Summit Medical Center is participating as part of HCA Healthcare’s third annual national Opioid Take Back Day. In October 2020, 95 HCA Healthcare facilities in 18 states collected 13,523 pounds of unused and expired prescription medications at “Crush the Crisis” events around the country.

Opioid addiction is a national health crisis. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention, 70,630 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2019, with more than 70% attributed to opioids.

A significant number of opioid addictions and overdose deaths come from individuals accessing unused opioids prescriptions of family and friends. The event aims to educate communities on the risk of opioid misuse, while providing a safe and anonymous way to dispose of medications that may be left over from previous procedures or other medical visits.

Law enforcement officers from the Lee’s Summit Police Department 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).

Any medications are accepted; however, needles, syringes, lancets, inhalers or liquids cannot be accepted.

Masking, social distancing, and appropriate traffic patterns, will be in place at the event.