Big Island Prescription Drug Take-Back Event Saturday

Big Island residents with prescription drugs they’d like to dispose of will have an opportunity to do so this weekend.

The Hawaiʻi Police Department is encouraging members of the public to take part in a nationwide prescription drug take-back initiative taking place on Saturday April 24, 2021, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Unused, unneeded or expired prescription medications can be turned in at the following collection sites for safe, anonymous disposal:

• Hilo:
  Ka Waena Lapaʻau Medical Complex parking lot
  670 Ponahawai Street
• Kailua-Kona:
  Kona Police Station
  74-0611 Hale Makaʻi Place

Tablets, capsules, and all other solid dosage forms of medication will be accepted. New or used needles and syringes will not be accepted. 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.

As part of the State of Hawai´i, Department of Health’s Medication Drop Box Program, prescription medications may also be dropped off year-round at each of island’s eight district police stations. 

• Hilo Police Station at 349 Kapiolani Street, Hilo
• North Hilo Police Station at Puualaea Homestead Road, Laupahoehoe
• Honokaa Police Station at 45-3400 Mamane Street, Honokaa
• Waimea Police Station at 67-5185 Kamamalu Street, Waimea
• Kapa’au Police Station at 54-3900 Akoni Pule Highway, Kapa‘au
• Kona Police Station at 74-611 Hale Maka‘i Place, Kailua-Kona
• Na‘alehu Police Station at 95-5355 Mamalohoa Highway, Na‘alehu  
• Puna Station at 15-2615 Keaau-Pahoa Highway, Pahoa

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