The U.S. Virgin Islands HIDTA Prevention Initiative, in collaboration with PR-USVI HIDTA, the Virgin Islands Police Department, the Virgin Islands Department of Health, the Overdose Response Strategy, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Postal Service and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), has successfully installed permanent prescription drug drop boxes at five post offices across the territory as of February 2025. Led by the PR-USVI HIDTA Deputy Director, the USVI Public Health Analyst (PHA) and Drug Intelligence Officer (DIO), alongside federal and local law enforcement and business partners, this initiative aims to reduce prescription drug misuse and environmental contamination by providing secure disposal sites for expired or unused medications.

The drop boxes, now available in St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John, are mailbox-style industrial containers with a trap hatch to ensure the security of deposited medications. Signage at each post office provides guidance on proper use, and all collected medications are disposed of in accordance with DEA policy. These boxes accept a range of medications, encouraging community members to safely discard unused prescriptions and help prevent substance misuse.

Between February 2025 (the launch of the program) and April 2025, a total of 40.22 kilograms (88.57 pounds) of prescription drugs were deposited into the five drop boxes territory-wide—19.32 kg (42.50 pounds) in St. Croix and 20.90 kg (46.07 pounds) in St. Thomas/St. John. As the USVI DIO noted, “These prescription drugs will never poison our water table or be used by our citizens, and as a result, save lives.” The USVI PHA played a key role in community outreach, ensuring interactive and engaging prevention education, particularly in schools. “We speak with the students, not to the students. Our presentations are very interactive, and the [USVI PHA] ensures this through various techniques,” the USVI DIO explained. The USVI DIO also emphasized the importance of safe disposal in preventing drug misuse and protecting the environment. This collaborative effort highlights the power of cross-sector partnerships in offering a sustainable solution to prevent prescription drug misuse and safeguard the environment across the U.S. Virgin Islands.