Saturday, April 29th, is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, a chance for you to get rid of unused, expired or unused prescription medications, no questions asked. Drop off your pills or patches between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. The service is free and anonymous, but take note: Needles, sharps and liquids will not be accepted.

In the KJAN listening area, here are some of the drop-off sites:

Atlantic – the Atlantic Police Department at 23 E. 4th Street (inside drop box)

Council Bluffs – Walgreens (535 E. Broadway St.)

Lenox – Nucara #30 Pharmacy (107 N. Main)

Shenandoah – Shenandoah Police Dept. (400 W. Sheridan Ave.)

Carter Lake – Carter Lake City Hall (950 Locust St.)

Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office (1400 Big Lake Road)

Glenwood – Glenwood Police Dept. (3 N. Vine St.)

Adel – Sumpter Pharmacy (628 Nike Kinnick Dr.)

Mt. Ayr – Ringgold County Sheriff’s Office (801 W. South St.)

(additional sites can be found at www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/index.html )

Last fall, more than 730,000 pounds of prescription drugs were turned in at about 5,200 Take Back Day sites operated by the DEA and more than 4,000 state and local law enforcement partners. The DEA says in the 12 previous Take Back events, more than 7.1 million pounds of pills were turned in.

Proper disposal of unwanted medicines is important. Most abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. They can lead to overdoses and accidental poisonings. Authorities say once-common methods of disposal, such as flushing medicines down the toilet or throwing them in the trash, pose potential safety and health hazards, so take this opportunity to get rid of those old prescription meds the safe way, by dropping them off at a site near you.