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HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital to Host “Crush the Crisis” Prescription Drug Take Back Day on October 25
Jacksonville, Florida – October 20, 2025 – HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital announced today that it is hosting its “Crush the Crisis” prescription drug take back day on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025 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 (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, offers the community an opportunity to safely and anonymously dispose of medications before they fall into the wrong hands.
National drug overdose deaths decreased by nearly 27% in 2024 according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, prescription drug misuse remains a public health crisis in the United States.
At HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital, caring for Clay County is who we are,” said Dr. Bradford Smith, Chief Medical Officer. “Crush the Crisis is more than a one-day event; it’s a reflection of our deep commitment to the community’s health and safety. By giving people a responsible way to dispose of unused or expired medications, we’re taking meaningful steps to support healthier futures.”
HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital is participating as part of HCA Healthcare’s seventh annual national “Crush the Crisis” prescription drug take back day. Since 2019, HCA Healthcare has helped safely dispose of more than 88,000 pounds of unused or expired medication. This year marks another milestone in HCA Healthcare’s ongoing effort to reach 100,000 pounds of safely collected medications.
Law enforcement officers from the Clay County Sheriff’s Office 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 will also be accepted. Any medications will be accepted; however, needles, syringes, lancets or liquids will not be accepted.
As a part of their commitment to combat prescription drug misuse, HCA Healthcare, the parent company of HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital, has worked with the National Academy of Medicine’s (NAM) Action Collaborative on Countering the U.S. Opioid Epidemic.
HCA Healthcare uses data from approximately 44 million annual patient encounters to help continuously improve care. The organization uses the science of “big data” to reduce prescription drug misuse and transform pain management, with initiatives in surgical, emergency and other care settings, including:
- Enhanced Surgical Recovery (ESR): a multi-modal approach to pain management using pre, intra and post-operative interventions to optimize outcomes. HCA Healthcare’s ESR programs have demonstrated significant improvements in surgical recovery and patient satisfaction, including decreases in opioid usage.
- Electronic Prescribing of Controlled Substances (EPCS): aims to stem increasing rates of opioid-related addiction, misuse diversion and death by making it more difficult for medication-seekers to doctor-shop and alter prescriptions. Physicians have access to aggregated electronic health records, providing data that will allow them to prescribe opioids judiciously.
“Crush the Crisis” will take place at HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital at 2001 Kingsley Avenue, Orange Park, FL 32073. For more information, visit hcahealthcare.com/crushthecrisis or call toll-free number at (833) 582-1970.
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About HCA Florida Healthcare in Jacksonville
HCA Florida Healthcare, a part of HCA Healthcare, is a family of more than 500 affiliated sites of care. It is a collaborative network connecting approximately 11,000 physicians, 49 hospitals, over 50 urgent care centers and more than 350 physician practices and freestanding emergency rooms. In Jacksonville, HCA Florida Healthcare Memorial Hospital and HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital are part of this network of personalized care. Both are full service, acute care, Level II trauma hospitals fully accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and both are ranked as one of the best hospitals in the country for heart, lung, and surgical care. For more information about services, facilities and physicians, please visit www.hcafloridahealthcare.com.