State to collect unwanted prescription drugs

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - The attorney general wants you to do a little spring cleaning in your medicine cabinet.

On Saturday, the state is collecting unused or expired prescriptions as part of "National Take Back Initiative Day."

Officials say prescription drugs are quickly becoming the second most abused drugs in schools, right behind marijuana.

National Take Back Initiative Day takes place Saturday, April 30. There will be several collection sites on Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Hawaii, Guam, and Saipan.

For more information, visit www.justice.gov/dea or call (808) 541-1930.

OAHU:

• Federal Building (parking lot)
  300 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu, Hawaii
  10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
• Kahala Mall (Kilauea Ave. end of mall)
  4211 Waialae Ave., Honolulu, Hawaii
  8:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon
• Town Center of Mililani (bandstand area)
  95-1249 Meheula Pkwy, Mililani, Hawaii
  10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
• Windward Mall (center court area)
  46-056 Kamehameha Hwy., Kaneohe, Hawaii
  10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

KAUAI:

• Kauai Police Department (parking lot)
  3990 Kaana St., Lihue, Hawaii
  10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

MAUI:

• Maui County Police Department (parking lot)
  55 Mahalani St., Maui, Hawaii
  10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

BIG ISLAND OF HAWAII:

• National Guard Aviation Facility (Airport Rd.)
  1095 Kekuanaoa St.,Hilo, Hawaii
  10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

GUAM:

• Agana Shopping Center (1st floor rotunda)
  Route 4, O'Brien Drive, Hagatna, Guam
  10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

SAIPAN:

• Horiguchi Federal Building (parking lot)
  Beach Road, Garapan, Saipan
  10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Why participate?

Unused or expired medicine should be disposed of properly when it is no longer needed for the illness for which it was prescribed.

• Medicines may lose their effectiveness after the expiration date.
• Improper use of prescription drugs can be as dangerous as illegal drug use.

Having unused and expired medicine in your home increases the risk of prescription drug abuse.

• In 2008, 6.2 million Americans aged 12 years or older abused prescription drugs - more than the total number of Americans abusing cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens, and inhalants combined.
• Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends - including from home medicine cabinets.

Having unused and expired medicine in your home increases the risk of accidental poisoning.

• Homes where children or the elderly live are especially vulnerable to this danger.
• People may mistake one type of medicine for another type. Children may mistake medicine for candy.

Unused or expired medicine should not be thrown in the trash where others can find it.

• Proper disposal helps reduce the risk of prescription drugs being used inappropriately.

Unused or expired medicine should not be flushed down the toilet unless the label says it is flushable.

• Proper disposal helps reduce the risk of prescription drugs entering a human water supply or potentially harming aquatic life.

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