Transylvania Regional Hospital, along with all six Mission Health hospitals in the region, will take part in HCA Healthcare’s eighth annual “Crush the Crisis” prescription drug take-back day on Saturday, Oct. 24 to help make safe medication disposal more accessible and raise awareness about the dangers of prescription drug misuse.
The event, which coincides with the Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, offers Transylvania County residents an opportunity to safely and anonymously dispose of medications to help prevent misuse from 10 a.m. to noon at Transylvania Regional Hospital, located at 260 Hospital Drive in Brevard.
Since 2019, HCA Healthcare has helped safely dispose of more than 108,500 pounds of unused or expired medication.
“Unused medications can easily be forgotten in a cabinet or drawer, but safely disposing of them is an important step we can all take to keep our communities safer,” said Chief Medical Officer of Mission Health Peter DeYoung. “Through Crush the Crisis, we’re proud to give our community a safe, anonymous and convenient way to take that step and help create a healthier tomorrow for Western North Carolina.”
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, an estimated 7.2 million people age 12 or older misused prescription pain relievers in 2025.
Law enforcement officers from all area 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 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 Mission Health, has worked with the National Academy of Medicine’s Action Collaborative on Countering the U.S. Opioid Epidemic.
For more information, visit HCAhealthcare.com/crushthecrisis or call (833) 582-1970.