Hermitage, TN - On Friday, September 7th, TriStar Summit Medical Center will be joining area TriStar Health hospitals to host “Crush the Crisis,” an opioid take-back event. TriStar Centennial, TriStar Skyline, TriStar Southern Hills, TriStar Summit, TriStar Hendersonville, TriStar StoneCrest and TriStar Spring Hill ER will partner with local law enforcement to host opioid-take back events at each facility. At TriStar Summit, law enforcement officers from the Hermitage Metro Police Department will be on site to help with the collection and disposal of unused medications from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, in 2016 there were 1,186 opioid-related overdose deaths in Tennessee which equates to 18.1 deaths per 100,000 Tennesseans. In comparison, the national rate for opioid-related overdose deaths is 13.3 per 100,000 persons.
“Our goal for ‘Crush the Crisis’ is to bring awareness to the dangers of opioid addiction and increase awareness about the proper disposal of these medications,” said Dr. Chad Kurzynske, primary care physician and event co-champion. “Opioid addiction can happen to anyone, and unused opioids are a major source of misuse and diversion. We want to provide this opportunity as a confidential and anonymous way for people to dispose of their unused medication properly.”
Volunteers 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). We will not be able to accept needles, syringes, lancets or liquids.
“Crush the Crisis” will take place at TriStar Summit Medical Center on Friday, September 7th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in front of the hospital main entrance located at 5655 Frist Blvd., Hermitage, TN.
For more information, visit tristarhealth.com/crushthecrisis or contact Tonya Grissom at (615) 316-4921.