Portsmouth Regional, Frisbie Memorial Hospitals to host Crush the Crisis Oct. 28

Portsmouth Regional Hospital and Frisbie Memorial Hospital will host its annual Crush the Crisis prescription drug take back day on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023, to help raise awareness about the dangers of prescription drug misuse and the importance of safe and proper disposal of unused or expired medications. The event, which coincides with the Drug Enforcement Administration's 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.

Law enforcement officers from the Portsmouth and Rochester police departments will be collecting 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, vape cartridges without batteries and pet medication also will be accepted. Any medications will be accepted; however, needles, syringes, lancets or liquids will not be accepted.

In 2022, there were more than 109,000 drug overdose deaths in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an increase from 2021.

“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 Brian Sanders, MD, chief medical officer of Portsmouth Regional Hospital and Frisbie Memorial Hospital. “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.”

Crush the Crisis prescription drug take back events will take place:

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