Prescription drugs to be collected

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The Hawaii Police Department is encouraging the public to participate in a nationwide prescription drug take-back initiative being sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the state Department of the Attorney General, the Department of Public Safety and community partners.

The Hawaii Police Department is encouraging the public to participate in a nationwide prescription drug take-back initiative being sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the state Department of the Attorney General, the Department of Public Safety and community partners.

On Saturday, April 28, members of the public can turn in unused, unneeded or expired prescription medications between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the following collection sites for safe, anonymous disposal:

• Army Aviation Support Facility (adjacent to Civil Air Patrol), 1095 Kekuanaoa St., Hilo

• Kealakehe police station parking lot, 74-611 Hale Makai Place, Kailua-Kona

Tablets, capsules and all other solid dosage forms will be accepted. Intravenous solutions, injectables and syringes will not be accepted. The drugs will be incinerated according to federal and state environmental guidelines.

Illicit substances such as marijuana or methamphetamine are not a part of this initiative.

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.

For more information about the drug take-back program, visit www.justice.gov/dea.