Kauaʻi Police Department to host no-questions-asked Drug Take Back Day

Kauaʻi Police Department, in collaboration with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, is giving Garden Isle residents the opportunity to safely dispose of unused, unwanted and expired prescription or nonprescription medications — no questions asked — later this month.

Community members are encouraged to take advantage of Drug Take Back Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 26 at Kauaʻi Police Department headquarters, located at 3990 Kaʻana St. in Līhuʻe.

Various forms of medications, including tablets, capsules, liquids and patches, can be dropped off using the drive-thru service on the east side of the building.

Absolutely no needles or syringes will be accepted.

The service is completely free and anonymous.

This initiative is part of the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day campaign led by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

It is aimed at providing a secure and responsible way to dispose of medications while raising awareness about the risks of drug misuse and importance of proper storage and disposal.

“Improperly discarded medications can harm the environment and potentially enter the water supply, endangering aquatic life,” said the announcement about Kauaʻi Police Department’s upcoming Drug Take Back Day event. “Additionally, unused medications in homes pose a significant risk of misuse or abuse.”

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, most individuals who misuse prescription drugs obtain them from friends or family.

During the last event in October, more than 2,500 pounds were turned in at collection sites throughout Hawai‘i.

A total of 4,425 law enforcement agencies participated in the October take back event nationwide, collecting medications at 4,644 sites.

Nearly 630,000 pounds, or 314 tons, of unused, unwanted and expired drugs were turned in that day throughout the country.

That brought the all-time total of medications collected to a whopping 19,200,440 pounds — 9,600 tons — since September 2010 when the nationwide drug take back campaign began.

For those unable to attend the April 26 event, a permanently installed medication dropbox is available at Kauaʻi Police Department headquarters in Līhuʻe for the anonymous disposal of unused or expired medications at any time.

Visit the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration website or contact Kauaʻi Police Department Criminal Investigations Division Capt. Darren Rose at 808-241-1696 for more information about the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day initiative.