Local organizations host drug take back

Local organizations will host drop-off events in honor of Opioid Take Back Day. 

Take back day raises awareness about the dangers of opioid misuse and the importance of safe and proper disposal of unused or expired medications.  

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 107,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2021, nearly a 15 percent increase from 2020.  

The event coincides with the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back and invites the community to safely dispose of medication before it may be obtained or misused.  

During last year’s Crush the Crisis event, HCA Florida Ocala Hospital and HCA Florida West Marion Hospital were the most significant contributors and collected 515 pounds of medication.  

HCA Florida Healthcare hospitals in North Central Florida will host its fourth annual “Crush the Crisis” national opioid take back day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. 

The designated HCA drop-off locations include:  

• HCA Florida Lake City Hospital – 340 NW Commerce Drive in Lake City  
• HCA Florida North Florida Hospital – 6500 W Newberry Road in Gainesville  
• HCA Florida Senior Healthcare Center at Melrose– 5818 Centre Street in Melrose 

UF will host an event for National DEA drug Take Back Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, at the UF Campus Turlington Plaza (330 Newell Dr.) in Gainesville. 

The Santa Fe College Police Department will host its drug take back from 8:30 to 7:30 a.m., Thursday through Sunday, at the SF College (3000 NW 83^rd St.) in Gainesville.  

North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System will host its VA Take Back Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.  

The designated VA drop-off locations include:  

• Malcom Randall VA Medical Center (Bed Tower Entrance) and 
• Lake City VA Medical Center (Lake City) (Entrance off Marion Ave) 

Other regional drop locations from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday include:  

• Alachua County Sherriff’s Office (ACSO) at Trinity United Methodist Church (4000 NW 53^rd Ave. In Gainesville 
• ACSO at Waldo City Hall (14655 Kennard St.) in Waldo.  
• High Springs Police Department at 23720 NW 187^th Ave. In High Springs. 
• Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) at the Trenton Train Depot (111 NW 4^th Aven.) in Trenton.  
• Columbia County Sheriff’s Office at the Columbia County South District 2 office (118 SW Wilson Springs Rd.) in Fort White. 
• Lake City Police Department at 225 NW Main Blvd. In Lake City 
• Cedar Key Police Department at Cedar Key City Hall (490 2^nd St.) in Cedar Key. 
• Live Oak Police Department (LOPD) at Cheek and Scott Pharmacy (1520 Ohio Ave. S) in Live Oak.  
• LOPD at Walgreens (1515 Ohio Save. S) in Live Oak.  

Law enforcement officers from North Central Florida 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) and vape cartridges (without batteries) and pet medications will also be accepted. 

Any medications are accepted; however, needles, syringes, lancets, or liquids will not be accepted.