Safe turn in - Old Prescription Drugs

HELP PROTECT YOUR FAMILY’S HEALTH AND SAFETY
BY REMOVING UNUSED OR EXPIRED MEDICINE FROM YOUR HOME.

Starting September 25, 2010, the Department of the Attorney General, the Department of Public Safety, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and community partners will take part in the first-ever nationwide prescription drug take-back.

You can turn in unused, unneeded, or expired prescription medications at collection sites across Hawaii.  PLEASE VISIT WWW.HAWAII/GOV/AG FOR DATES AND LOCATIONS.

This service is FREE AND ANONYMOUS  – no questions asked.

Tablets, capsules, and all other solid dosage forms WILL be accepted.  

Intravenous solutions, injectibles, and syringes WILL NOT be accepted.

The drugs will be incinerated according to federal and state environmental guidelines.


IT’S TIME TO GET RID OF YOUR UNUSED OR EXPIRED MEDICINE.

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.  


FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Call:      837-8470
Visit:     hawaii.gov/ag
E-mail:  hawaiiag@hawaii.gov