Saline County prescription drug takeback Saturday

HARRISBURG - The Saline County Sheriff's Office will participate in another round of the Prescription Drug Take Back program, at 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27 at the Saline County Courthouse parking lot, 10 E. Poplar St., Harrisburg.

This is the 17th round for the drug takeback event and is designed to prevent prescription pill abuse and theft, as well as ridding homes of potentially dangerous, unused and unwanted prescription drugs.

The service is free and anonymous.

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 are now advised that their usual methods of disposal of unused medicines, flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash, both pose potential safety and health hazards.

Don't flush old medications! Drop them off Saturday.