165 Pounds of Meds Collected During National Drug Take Back Day

Sixteen boxes of unused, unwanted and expired medications were collected during National Drug Take Back Day on Kaua‘i. The 165 pounds of prescription drugs will be sent to Oʿahu for proper disposal.

The initiative, hosted by the Kaua‘i Police Department (KPD) and the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) took place on Saturday. Officials collected tablets, capsules, liquids, and other forms of prescription and nonprescription medication, from members of the community.

“We want to thank the public for their participation. We were pleasantly surprised by the number of people who turned up to drop off their unused medication,” said Investigative Services Bureau Assistant Chief Bryson Ponce. “We also want to thank the DEA for its partnership with KPD in holding this important annual initiative.”

When prescription drugs are disposed of properly and in a timely fashion, it can help decrease abuse of these drugs by teenagers or other unauthorized users, KPD officials say. It also mitigates the environmental damage that occurs due to improper disposal by private citizens.

The public can continue to help address these issues by using KPD headquarters’ drop boxes in Līhuʿe at their convenience. Simply leave the medication in its prescription bottle and place the bottle into a clear Ziplock bag upon disposal in one of the green bins by the Records Section Window.

The service is free and anonymous, and no questions will be asked.

Drug Take Back Day is part of a national initiative coordinated by the DEA, which focuses on providing a safe, convenient, and responsible method of disposing of medications, while also educating the community about the potential for abuse and consequences of improper storage and disposal.

For more information on the National Drug Take Back initiative, click here, or contact KPD Investigative Services Bureau Assistant Chief Bryson Ponce at 241-1681.