Drug take-back set for next weekend in Portsmouth

PORTSMOUTH - Portsmouth Regional Hospital will host "Crush the Crisis," an opioid take-back event that will allow the community to safely dispose of unused or expired opioid medications next weekend.

The event will take place Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Portsmouth Regional Hospital's discharge entrance, 333 Borthwick Avenue in Portsmouth. Follow the directional signs when coming to the facility.

Law enforcement officers from the Portsmouth Police Department will be on-site at the facility to assist with the collection and disposal of unused medications.

"Opioid addiction is a growing crisis not only on the Seacoast, but across our nation," said Thomas Wold, D.O., chief medical officer of Portsmouth Regional Hospital. "Our goal for 'Crush the Crisis' is to raise awareness of the dangers of opioid addiction and educate our community about the proper disposal of these medications. Opioid addiction can happen to anyone and we are providing this drop- off opportunity confidentially and anonymously."

Examples of medication include tablets, capsules and patches of Hydrocodone (Norco, Lortab, Vicodin), Oxycodone (Oxycontin, Percocet), Tramadol (Ultram), Codeine, Fentanyl (Duragesic), Morphine, Hydromorphone (Dilaudid) and Oxymorphone (Opana). Needles, syringes, lancets or liquids will not be accepted.

According to the National Institute of Health's National Institute on Drug Abuse, New Hampshire is among the top five states with the highest rate of opioid-involved deaths. In New Hampshire, drug overdose deaths involving opioids totaled 412 (a rate of 33.1) in 2018 and has remained stable since 2015. This was more than twice the average national rate of 14.6 deaths per 100,000 persons. Deaths involving synthetic opioids other than methadone (mainly fentanyl) have remained steady, but high over the past several years with 386 deaths (a rate of 21.0) in 2018. Deaths involving prescription opioids declined from 89 deaths (a rate of 6.5) in 2016 to 43 deaths (a rate of 3.1) in 2018.*

Portsmouth Regional Hospital is participating as part of HCA Healthcare's second national "Crush the Crisis" opioid take back day. All of HCA Healthcare facilities across 15 states are uniting to collect unused or expired opioids for one day.

For more information, visit Portsmouth Regional Hospital's Facebook page or contact Ann Williams, Director of Pharmacy at 603-433-5108.