Prescription Drug Take Back Day aims to promote awareness about prescription drug misuse and provide safe disposal options.
CALDWELL, Idaho — A prescription drug take-back event in Caldwell gathered 93 pounds of unused medications Saturday as part of efforts to combat drug misuse in Idaho.
West Valley Medical Center and the Caldwell Police Department hosted their sixth annual “Crush the Crisis” collection drive Oct. 25, coinciding with the Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. The initiative aims to promote awareness about prescription drug misuse and provide safe disposal options for expired or unwanted medications.
The event is part of a broader effort by HCA Healthcare, which operates West Valley Medical Center. Since launching the program in 2019, the healthcare company has collected more than 88,000 pounds of prescription drugs nationwide through similar take-back events.
Prescription drug misuse continues to pose significant public health challenges despite recent progress. According to the state Department of Health and Welfare, while national drug overdose deaths dropped nearly 27% in 2024, opioid-related deaths in Idaho totaled 212 last year.
HCA Healthcare states that studies indicate that many drug addictions and overdose deaths stem from people obtaining unused prescription medications from relatives and acquaintances, highlighting the importance of proper medication disposal.
The nationwide “Crush the Crisis” program aims to collect 100,000 pounds of unused medications.
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