MEDIA RELEASE

Kaiser Permanente Hawaii has announced that more than 100 pounds of expired or unused prescription drugs were collected through its clinics on Oahu, Maui and the Big Island.

The drug take-back initiative provided the community with the opportunity to properly dispose of expired or unused medications at 18 clinic locations on the islands of Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island.

“Kaiser Permanente initiated this prescription drug take-back program to help curb the growing rates of prescription drug use and poison-related deaths related to unused medication in the household,” said Barbara Kashiwabara, Kaiser Permanente Hawaii’s Senior Director of Pharmaceutical Services.

“Many people also don’t realize that improperly disposing of unwanted medications – flushing them down toilets or throwing them in the trash – contributes to water and land contamination. So, in addition to the environmental benefits, we’re hopeful that this initiative also serves an educational purpose,” Kashiwabara said.

The drug take-back initiative was held in partnership with the State Narcotics Enforcement Division and State Department of the Attorney General and in addition, on the Big Island, with the University of Hawaii, Hilo, College of Pharmacy.

Breakdown of drug take-back collection by island:

* Oahu – 50.64 pounds
* Maui – 47.76 pounds
* Big Island – 6.33 pounds

TOTAL – 104.73 pounds

— Find out more:
www.kp.org