August 23, 2019 – Westside Regional Medical Center has joined forces to host the “Crush the Crisis” opioid take back event on Saturday, September 7. Community members invited to dispose of unused or expired medications. Law enforcement officers from the Plantation Police Department will be on-site to assist with the collection and disposal of unused medications.
The purpose of “Crush the Crisis” is to provide Broward County residents a safe, confidential way to dispose of unused or expired opioid medications. Volunteers 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). Needles, syringes, lancets or liquids will not be accepted.
“Crush the Crisis” will take place on Saturday, September 7, and Broward County residents can bring unused or expired opioid medications to:
Westside Regional Medical Center’s Emergency Room
8201 West Broward Blvd.
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
“Opioid addiction is now a national crisis and we are seeing its effects on our community,” said Dr. Giorgio Tarchini, Chief Medical Officer at Westside Regional Medical Center. “Through ‘Crush the Crisis’ we hope to raise awareness about the dangers of opioid addiction and educate our community about their proper disposal.”
Barbara Simmons, RN, CEO, at Westside Regional agrees. “As healthcare professionals we see the devastating impact of opioid addiction on patients and their loved ones. Participating in ‘Crush the Crisis’ is one way we can help our community combat this serious issue.”
In 2017, there were more than 70,200 drug overdose deaths in the U.S.–an age-adjusted rate of 21.7 per 100,000 persons. Among these, 47,600 involved opioids. The age-adjusted rate of drug overdose deaths increased significantly in Florida by 5.9 percent from 2016 (23.7 per 100,000) to 2017 (25.1 per 100,000).
Westside Regional Medical Center is one of more than 65 HCA Healthcare facilities nationwide hosting opioid take back events on September 7.
About Westside Regional Medical Center
Westside Regional Medical Center is a facility of HCA East Florida. Founded in 1974, Westside Regional Medical Center has evolved into a 224-bed medical center and healthcare complex continuously expanding and bringing on the latest technology that enables us to provide leading edge services to the population we serve. Construction of our new 3-story patient tower is expected to be completed in September of 2019.
For more information visit www.westsideregional.com or call 954-370-5585.
HCA EAST FLORIDA
Aventura Hospital and Medical Center + Highlands Regional Medical Center + JFK Medical Center +
JFK Medical Center North Campus + Kendall Regional Medical Center + Lawnwood Regional Medical Center + Mercy Hospital + Northwest Medical Center + Palms West Hospital + Plantation General Hospital + Raulerson Hospital + St. Lucie Medical Center + University Hospital & Medical Center + Westside Regional Medical Center
