Unwanted, unused drugs collected during National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

HONOLULU (KHON2) — It’s a day that helps prevent unused and unwanted prescriptions from falling into the wrong hands.

Officials from local law enforcement agencies, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Hawaii Department of Law Enforcement Narcotics Enforcement Division collected these drugs during National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.

Prescriptions were collected on Oʻahu, Maui, Kauaʻi, and Big Island. Officials conduct the National Take Back Initiative twice a year and accept medications in the form of tablets, capsules, liquids and more. Vape batteries with batteries removed were also accepted.

“I encourage everyone to remove any unused and expired medications from their homes for drop-off at designated collection sites located throughout the state,” DEA Honolulu District Office Assistant Special Agent in Charge Victor Vazquez said.

Officials said this event takes back thousands of pounds of medication each year, collecting dangerous prescriptions to be destroyed properly.

Unused or expired medicine should be disposed of due to the following:

• Medicine loses effectiveness after expiration
• Improper use can be as dangerous as illegal drug use
• Increases the risk of accidental poisoning
• Can be mistaken of one type of medicine for another

According to the Attorney General, unused or expired medication should not be flushed down the toilet where the water could be tainted.

“We want a safe environment. There’s just so much going into our water system,” said Valerie Mariano of the Department of Attorney General Community Crime Prevention Branch. “We don’t want it to get into the hands of children, or anyone else taking it by mistake and misusing the drug.”

Those who missed out on turning in their medications can head to a drop-off site year-round. To find the nearest drop-off site near you, visit the DEA’s website.