165 pounds of unused medication collected

LIHU‘E — Last weekend’s National Drug Take Back Day initiative, hosted by the Kaua‘i Police Department and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, resulted in a total of 16 boxes filled with unused, unwanted and expired medications, adding up to a combined weight of 165 pounds.

The boxes were sent to O‘ahu for proper disposal.

The event was held on Saturday when Kaua‘i police, along with a representative from the DEA, 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,” said Bryson Ponce, KPD assistant chief in charge of the Investigative Services Bureau.

”We were pleasantly surprised by the number of people who turned up to drop off their unused medication,” he said. “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. 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 Lihu‘e at their convenience, Ponce said. Simply leave the medication in its prescription bottle and place the bottle into a clear plastic 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 that focuses on providing a safe, convenient and responsible method of disposing medications, while also educating the community about the potential for abuse and consequences of improper storage and disposal.