HONOLULU — The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and more than 4,000 of its national, tribal, and community partners will hold a seventh National Prescription Drug Take Back Day at over 5,500 sites across America tomorrow (Saturday, Oct. 26). These Take Back Days are needed to curb drug abuse and give the public an opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, or unwanted prescription drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.
The DEA’s six previous Take-Back Days turned in nearly 2.8 million pounds – almost 1,409 tons—of prescription drugs
The Public Safety Department Narcotics Enforcement Division (NED) is participating with the DEA on this program. All drugs collected in Hawaii will be weighed, stored and eventually destroyed.
For more information visit www.dea.gov, click on the “Got Drugs?” icon. Or you can call 1-800-882-9539.
Collection sites will be open across Hawaii from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
The Hawaii collection sites include:
- Town Center of Mililani
- Kapolei Police Department
- Hawaii State Capitol
- Kaneohe Bay Shopping Center
- Kahala Mall
Pearl Harbor Navy Exchange (NEX)
Schofield Army Barracks AAFES PX (Authorized personnel with base access only)
Kaneohe Marine Corps Base Exchange (Authorized personnel with base access only)
Maui Police Department
Kauai Police Department
If you are not able to make it to tomorrow’s DEA Take Back Day there will be another opportunity next Saturday at Leeward Community College. They will be holding their Leward Discovery Fair – Celebrate Safe Communities Event. The Take Back program will be at the event and will accept old prescriptions from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.