Medical City Healthcare Hospitals join forces with DEA for 2025 Drug Take Back events

Dallas, Texas — Six Medical City Healthcare hospitals are joining forces with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for its National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, Oct. 25. In collaboration with local law enforcement, the hospitals will offer community members a safe and anonymous way to dispose of unused or expired prescription and over-the-counter medications – helping prevent misuse and protect public health.

National drug overdose deaths decreased by nearly 27% in 2024 according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, prescription drug misuse remains a public health crisis in the United States. In Texas, CDC provisional numbers indicate that drug overdose deaths also declined from April 2024 to April 2025.

Community members are invited to dispose of unused or expired prescription or over-the-counter medications, free of charge, at convenient drive-thru locations on Oct. 25 from 10:00am – 2:00pm at:

• Medical City Arlington (Main entrance)
  3301 Matlock Road, Arlington, TX 76015
• Medical City Dallas (CareTower A, Entrance 2)
  7777 Forest Lane, Dallas, TX 75230
• Medical City Decatur (Medical office building entrance)
  609 Medical Center Dr., Decatur, TX 76234
• Medical City Denton (Professional building entrance)
  3537 S. I-35E, Denton, TX 76210
• Medical City Frisco (Medical office building 2 entrance)
  5575 Frisco Square Blvd., Frisco, TX 75034
• McKinney Police Department (with Medical City McKinney)
  2200 Taylor Burk Dr., McKinney, TX 75071

“Providing a secure and anonymous way to dispose of unused or expired medications isn’t just about convenience — it’s about protecting lives,” says Medical City Healthcare Chief Medical Officer Alan Harmatz, MD. “Drug Take Back Day is a powerful expression of our ongoing commitment to the health and safety of our community. Every medication returned is a step toward preventing misuse, safeguarding families and creating healthier tomorrows.”

Law enforcement officers from the Arlington, Dallas, Decatur, Denton, Frisco and McKinney police departments will be collecting prescription and over-the-counter medications in tablet, capsule and patch forms. Ointments, lotions, drops, liquid medication in leak-proof containers, vape cartridges without batteries and pet medication will also be accepted. Needles, syringes, lancets or illegal drugs will not be accepted.

Medical City Healthcare is participating in the DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day as part of HCA Healthcare’s year-round “Crush the Crisis” program. The organization uses the science of “big data” to reduce prescription drug misuse and transform pain management, with initiatives in surgical, emergency and other care settings.

Additionally, permanent drug take back boxes are located at 15 Medical City Healthcare hospitals. The permanent boxes are compliant with DEA regulations and can be accessed free of charge, any day of the year — not just on a specific drug take back day.

For more information, visit Medical City's Drug Take Back Program.