Kauaʻi County hosts drug take back event at Līhuʻe police station

Unused pain pills, expired liquids and old patches sitting in a Kauaʻi medicine cabinet can become a household hazard long before they ever reach the trash. Next Saturday, April 25, Kauaʻi County and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration will give residents a free, anonymous way to turn that clutter into a safety cleanup at the Kauaʻi Police Department in Līhuʻe.

The drive-through collection will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 3990 Kaʻana Street, allowing people to stay in their vehicles while dropping off unwanted prescription and non-prescription medications. County officials said no questions will be asked. Accepted items include tablets, capsules, liquids, patches and other medications, but needles and syringes will not be accepted. Vapes and e-cigarette devices can be dropped off only if the batteries have been removed.

The county is framing the event as more than a disposal day. Leftover medication in the home can lead to accidental ingestion, misuse or confusion over what is current and what has expired, especially in homes with keiki or kūpuna. Improper disposal can also send pharmaceuticals into landfills and waterways if people flush them or throw them in household trash.

The need is not theoretical on Kauaʻi. County officials said the last Take Back event collected more than 600 pounds of unwanted medications, a sign that residents are using the option when it is easy to reach. For those who cannot make Saturday’s event, a permanent, anonymous medication drop box is available year-round at Kauaʻi Police Department Headquarters in Līhuʻe, also at 3990 Kaʻana Street. Kauaʻi County says medications for the drop box should be placed in a clear plastic bag before being dropped off.

Nationally, the DEA says the 30th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day will be held the same day, with nearly 4,200 collection sites across the country. The agency says its Take Back Day program has removed more than 20 million pounds of unwanted medications from U.S. communities since 2010. In spring 2025, nearly 4,500 law-enforcement agencies took part and collected more than 620,000 pounds of unneeded and expired medications.

That larger public-health picture matters in everyday homes. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has reported that about half of people who misused prescription pain relievers got the drugs most recently misused from a friend or relative for free. On Kauaʻi, county officials say the fix is simple: clear out what is no longer needed, keep dangerous medications away from children and older adults, and keep them out of the environment.