West Virginians are urged to participate in National Drug Take Back Day this Saturday, September 29, when police departments across southern West Virginia will provide locations for residents to safely drop-off their expired or unused prescriptions and over-the-counter medications.

Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines — flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash — both pose potential safety and health hazards.

Drug Take Back Day is sponsored nationwide by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency in coordination with state and local law enforcement to provide the public with a no-questions-asked opportunity to turn in expired, unwanted, or unused pharmaceuticals, controlled substances, and other medications that will be safely removed from communities and destroyed. Citizens can anonymously drop off medications between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at any one of the drop-off locations in southern West Virginia:

• West Virginia State Police

735 Riverview Avenue

Logan

• Logan County Sheriff’s Department

Walmart Super Center

Fountain Place Mall

U.S. 119/WV 73

Logan

• Boone County Sheriff’s Office

Boone County Courthouse

200 State Street

Madison

Aside from the human toll, the abuse of prescription drugs – now considered the greatest drug threat facing our nation – carries a heavy economic cost of some $72.5 billion annually.