Alaska Regional to host "Crush the Crisis" Prescription Drug Take Back Day

Alaska Regional will be proudly partnering with the Anchorage Police Department in hosting its annual “Crush the Crisis” prescription drug take back day on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023 to help raise awareness about the dangers of prescription drug misuse and the importance of safe and proper disposal of unused or expired medications. 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 that may be left over from previous procedures or other medical visits.

In 2022, there were more than 109,000 drug overdose deaths in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an increase from 2021. According to the Alaska Department of Health, in 2021, Alaska experienced the largest percent increase in overdose deaths of any state in the United States. Between 2020-2021, drug overdose death rates increased for most drug categories, resulting in a 74% increase in the overall drug overdose death rate.

The event takes place on the Alaska Regional Hospital campus– in the parking lot of Building E at 1200 Airport Heights Road. The collection site will be in the covered drive-thru at the east entrance of Building E. There will be directional signage.

ACCEPTED ITEMS: Tablets, capsules and patches.

NOT ACCEPTED ITEMS: Needles, syringes, lancets and liquids.

Hospital volunteers and law enforcement officers will be present at each collection site to help with the safe and anonymous disposal of expired and unneeded medications.