Safely dispose of opioids and other medications at Medical City Healthcare hospitals

Opioid addiction is a national crisis. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of drug overdose deaths increased by nearly 5% from 2018 to 2019 and has quadrupled since 1999. More than 70% of the 70,630 deaths in 2019 involved an opioid.

Medical City Healthcare and its parent company, HCA Healthcare, are working to Crush the Crisis.

Drug Take Back Day

Saturday, October 23, 2021

10:00 am – 2:00 pm

On October 23, six Medical City hospitals will work with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and local law enforcement agencies to host special “DRIVE-THROUGH” drug drop-off collection sites.

Community members are encouraged to take advantage of this safe and anonymous way to dispose of prescription and over-the-counter medications from their homes where the drugs, especially opioids, are vulnerable to misuse, theft or abuse by family members and visitors, including children and teens.

Accepted Items:

  • Any tablets, capsules and patches including Hydrocodone (Norco, Lortab, Vicodin), Oxycodone (Oxycontin, Percocet), Tramadol (Ultram), Codeine, Fentanyl (Duragesic), Morphine, Hydromorphone (Dilaudid), Oxymorphone (Opana)

Unaccepted Items:

  • Needles, syringes, lancets, inhalers, and liquids

COVID-19 Precautions 

To help keep members of our communities safe, Crush The Crisis Drug Take Back Day events will adhere to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention safety protocols to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, including, but not limited to:

  • Universal masking policy
  • Appropriate, disposable masks available to all participants and attendees
  • Hand sanitizer available
  • Social distancing, at least 6 feet from others and not gathering in groups
  • Appropriate traffic patterns to collection site (one entry path and one exit path) 

Permanent Drug Take Back Boxes

Twelve Medical City Healthcare hospitals offer free disposal of medications, used and unused, with conveniently located drug take-back boxes. The boxes enable North Texans to safely and anonymously remove prescription opioids and other medications from their homes where the drugs are vulnerable to misuse, theft or abuse by family members and visitors, including children and teens.

How to return used and unused drugs and medications

The drug take-back boxes, which are compliant with Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) regulations, may be accessed, free of charge, any day of the year—not just on a specific drug take-back day.

Accepted Items:

  • Any tablets, capsules and patches including Hydrocodone (Norco, Lortab, Vicodin), Oxycodone (Oxycontin, Percocet), Tramadol (Ultram), Codeine, Fentanyl (Duragesic), Morphine, Hydromorphone (Dilaudid), Oxymorphone (Opana)

Unaccepted Items:

  • Needles, syringes, lancets, inhalers and liquids

Medical City Healthcare drug disposal sites

Medical City Healthcare facilities offering medication take-back boxes include:

Learn more about the opioid crisis and substance abuse

How to Get Help for Opioid Addiction

The Growing Opioid Crisis: What You Need to Know

Concerned about substance abuse? Visit with a trusted medical specialist about treatment options.

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