Public safety departments throughout Kane County will be participating in the National Drug Take Back Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22.

The campaign is in partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration, and its purpose is to collect expired, unused and unwanted prescription medications (pills or patches only), with no questions asked.

The drugs will then be safely disposed of. The service is free and anonymous. For most programs liquids, needles or sharps cannot be accepted.

The Kane County Sheriff’s Office and Kane County Coroner’s Office both have drug drop-off boxes that are available during business hours.

Last April, Americans turned in 447 tons of prescription drugs at almost 5,400 sites operated by the DEA and more than 4,200 of its state and local law enforcement partners. Overall, in its 11 previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in over 6.4 million pounds — more than 3,200 tons — 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.

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

More information can be found at usdoj.gov.

Take Back Day: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Justice website