HCA Healthcare to host 8th annual Crush the Crisis prescription drug take back day on October 24

Denver, Colo. - HCA HealthONE announced today that it is hosting its 8th annual "Crush the Crisis" prescription drug take back day on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, 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 (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, offers the community an opportunity to safely and anonymously dispose of medications to help prevent misuse.

WHY

Since 2019, HCA Healthcare, the parent company of HCA HealthONE, has helped safely dispose of more than 108,500 pounds of unused or expired medication. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), an estimated 7.2 million people age 12 or older misused prescription pain relievers in 2025. In Colorado, an estimated 140,000 people age 12 or older misused prescription opioids in the past year.

WHAT

Law enforcement officers from the metro 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, 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 47 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.

For more information, visit Crush The Crisis or call toll-free number at (833) 582-1970.

WHO

HCA HealthONE colleagues, including doctors, nurses and staff, and members of local law enforcement invite community members to dispose of unused medications safely.

WHEN

Saturday, October 24, 2026 | 10:00am - 2:00pm

WHERE

HCA HealthONE Aurora
1501 S. Potomac Street, Aurora
HCA HealthONE Centennial
@Arapahoe County Sheriff, 13101 E. Bronco's Pkwy, Centennial

HCA HealthONE Mountain Ridge
@The Fossil Ridge Public Safety Building, 13150 Quebec St, Thornton
@Thornton Fire Dept. Station 1, 2300 Thornton Pkwy, Thornton

HCA HealthONE Rose
4567 E. 9th Ave, Denver

HCA HealthONE Sky Ridge
10101 RidgeGate Parkway, Lone Tree (collection area near Emergency Dept on southeast side of campus)

HCA HealthONE South Parker ER
12223 Pine Bluffs Way, Parker 80134

HCA HealthONE Swedish
501 E. Hampden, Englewood (collection area near Emergency Dept at Girard Ave and Pennsylvania St.)

Please contact Stephanie Sullivan at (303) 990-3582 for more information.