Drug take-back set for Saturday

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

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

On Saturday, members of the public may 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, 1095 Kekuanaoa St., adjacent to Civil Air Patrol, in Hilo; and Kona police station parking lot, 74-611 Hale Makai Place in Kailua-Kona.

Tablets, capsules and all other solid dosage forms will be accepted. Intravenous solutions, injectables 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.

For more information about the drug take-back program, visit http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/index.html.