Saturday, April 26, is National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, when the public has an opportunity to safely and anonymously dispose of unwanted medicine.
Unused and expired medicines in the home pose a variety of risks as they can lead to accidental poisonings, overdose and abuse.
According to the Department of Justice, non-medical use of prescription drugs ranks second only to marijuana as the most common form of drug abuse in the nation.
It said the majority of teenagers abusing prescription drugs get them from family and friends – and the home medicine cabinet.
Unused drugs thrown in the trash can be retrieved or can contaminate water supplies.
On the Big Island, the public may turn in unneeded or expired prescription medications between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Komohana Medical Center’s upper parking lot in Hilo and at the Kona Police Station in Kailua-Kona.
Tablets, capsules and other solid dosage forms will be accepted.
Illicit substances such as marijuana or methamphetamine are not part of this initiative.
Intravenous solutions, injectables or syringes are not included.
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