TriStar Health Collects Over 1,200 Pounds of Unwanted Drugs
HENDERSONVILLE, TENNESSEE (Smokey Barn News) – TriStar Health facilities across Middle Tennessee collected more than 1,200 pounds of unused and expired medications during the eighth annual “Crush the Crisis” prescription drug take-back events held Saturday, October 24.
The initiative, organized by HCA Healthcare, involved 15 TriStar Health locations across Middle Tennessee, with assistance from local law enforcement. The events provided residents with an anonymous way to dispose of unwanted medications in an effort to reduce prescription drug misuse.
“We are proud of our communities for showing up and taking action to help prevent prescription drug misuse,” said Dr. Ajit Singh, chief medical officer at TriStar Health. “While Tennessee is seeing encouraging declines in overdose deaths, there is still important work to be done. By safely disposing of more than 1,200 pounds of medication, we’re helping keep unused prescriptions out of the wrong hands and making a meaningful impact on the health and safety of our communities.”
According to figures provided in the release, Tennessee recorded 2,473 drug overdose deaths in 2024, representing a 31% decrease from the previous year.
The Crush the Crisis program originated in Nashville in 2017 after Dr. Jeffery Hodrick, an orthopedic surgeon at Southern Joint Replacement Institute, and his nurse navigator identified a need to help patients dispose of unused medications following surgery.
The first event, held at TriStar Centennial, collected approximately 21 pounds of medication. The program expanded throughout HCA Healthcare’s TriStar Division in 2018 before becoming a company-wide initiative in 2019.
Since its inception, Crush the Crisis has collected more than 108,500 pounds of unused and expired medications across HCA Healthcare facilities.
The initiative is part of HCA Healthcare’s efforts to address prescription drug misuse through medication disposal, responsible prescribing, patient education, and pain management practices.
TriStar Health operates ten hospitals, 21 imaging centers, 93 physician offices, five freestanding emergency rooms, eight outpatient surgery centers, 21 CareNow Urgent Care centers, and ten medical parks throughout the region.
For additional information about TriStar Health, visit TriStarHealth.com.
