KAILUA-KONA — Big Island residents are encouraged to turn in unused or expired medication for safe and anonymous disposal this weekend during the on National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day.
On Saturday, the public may turn in unused, unneeded or expired prescription medications between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Kealakehe Police Station parking lot, at 74-0611 Hale Makai Place in Kailua-Kona, or Ka Waena Lapaau Medical Complex parking lot, at 670 Ponahawai St. in Hilo.
Tablets, capsules and all other solid dosage forms of medication will be accepted. New or used needles and syringes will not be accepted. Illicit substances such as marijuana or methamphetamine are not a part of this initiative, Hawaii Police said.
Having unused and expired medicine in your home increases the risk of prescription drug abuse and accidental poisoning. Proper disposal also helps reduce the risk of prescription drugs entering a human water supply or potentially harming aquatic life, police said.
The last take-back day, held in April, netted 474.5 tons of unused or expired medication across the nation, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. Hawaii accounted for 5,076 pounds.
For more information about the National Take-Back Initiative, visit www.dea.gov.