Manatee County residents safely disposed of more than 100 pounds of unwanted prescription medications Saturday, October 17, during HCA Healthcare’s annual Crush the Crisis drug take-back event.
HCA Florida Blake Hospital and HCA Florida Braden River Emergency partnered with the Bradenton Police Department and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office to collect unused and expired medications, helping reduce the risk of prescription drug misuse in the community.
The annual event provides residents with a safe, anonymous way to dispose of medications left over from surgeries, medical treatments, and other prescriptions. Removing these drugs from household medicine cabinets helps prevent accidental ingestion, unauthorized use, and potential addiction.
Prescription drug misuse remains a public health concern despite declining national overdose deaths. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, overdose deaths continued to decrease in 2025. Research indicates that many cases of prescription drug misuse involve medications obtained from family members, friends, or acquaintances.
Since launching Crush the Crisis in 2019, HCA Healthcare reports that its nationwide collection events have resulted in the safe disposal of more than 88,000 pounds of unused or expired medications.
The annual initiative highlights the importance of responsible medication disposal and cooperation among healthcare providers, law enforcement agencies, and residents to promote safer communities.
