Today is National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day

That allergy medication your doctor prescribed for you five years ago?

Yeah, it’s not good anymore.

If unsure what do to with it or any other prescription drugs, law enforcement agencies across the North Bay are participating in a nationwide prescription drug take-back event on Saturday, April 28. Part of a partnership with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the event is an attempt to remove expired or unwanted prescription drugs that can lead to abuse or accidental poisonings in homes, according to police.

In many towns, residents can bring their unwanted, unused or expired prescription and over-the-counter drugs to their local police departments. There is a receptacle in the lobby of the station. According to city officials, residents may also get rid of unwanted drugs by putting them in a collection container in the police department lobby from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

“Drug disposal addresses a vital public safety and health issue in that medicines that languish in your home are often susceptible to theft and abuse,” Mill Valley Police Department officials said in a statement. “The usual methods of drug disposal are to throw them in the trash or flush them down the drain, but safe disposal means finding a collection site or participating in this year's

Studies have shown that the majority of prescription drug abuse comes from drugs obtained from family or friends, including the home medicine cabinet. Other methods of disposing of the drugs, including flushing them down the toilet, can pose safety hazards, police said.

Americans that participated in the DEA's event last year turned in more than 377,086 pounds or 188.5 tons of unwanted and expired medications at the 5,327 take-back sites in all 50 states.

Police recommend taking the drugs out of their original containers (unless plastic or foil-wrapped), put them into plastic zip-lock bags and place into the container.

Police will accept prescription medications, all over-the-counter medications, vitamins and supplements, medicated ointments, lotions, creams and oils. Drugs that will not be accepted at the event are liquid medications, intravenous solutions, needles, inhalers or patch medications. Illegal drugs such as marijuana and methamphetamine will also not be accepted, according to police.

To find the closest drop-off station to you, visit the DEA's website