11th Annual Drug Take Back Day is Saturday, April 30

Local law enforcement agencies are holding the 11th Annual Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Drug Take Back Day.

Residents can help prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. Bring your pills for disposal to the Weston, Redding, Easton Police Department on Saturday, April 30 from 9 am. util 2 p.m. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

According to the DEA, last September, Americans turned in 350 tons, over 702,000 pounds, of prescription drugs at more than 5,000 sites operated by the DEA and more than 3,800 of its state and local law enforcement partners. Over the last 10 years, the DEA and its partners have taken in over 5.5 million pounds of pills.

"This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. 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," the DEA said in a release.

"Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that 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."

For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the April 30 Take Back Day event, go to the DEA Diversion website.

Click here to find a collection site near you.