Folks with unused prescription drugs in their home are being encouraged to dispose of them on Saturday, which is “National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.”Police departments across the country, including those in Powell, Cody and Lovell, are collecting unneeded medications between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. in an effort to ensure the potentially dangerous materials aren't misused.

Residents can simply bring any unused medications to the Powell police station at 250 North Clark St., where they can essentially be dumped in a container for later destruction.

“It's free, it's anonymous and fairly simple,” said Powell Police Officer Matt McCaslin, who's heading up Saturday's event in Powell.

“It's a great way to get these unused, unneeded prescriptions off the street and make them unavailable for abuse,” McCaslin said.

Drugs collected Saturday will be picked up by workers with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, who put together the Take Back Day, and incinerated. Incineration is recognized as the most environmentally responsible way to get rid of unused prescription medications.

McCaslin said keeping unneeded or expired drugs lying around can lead to accidental poisonings and overdose, abuse or even a burglary by someone looking for drugs. Just like everywhere else in the country, police in Powell frequently see cases where a family member or friend steals medications for abuse.

“It's one of the reasons prescription drugs have become so problematic — because they are so easy to get from people who leave them just lying around,” said McCaslin.

Prescription drug abuse has skyrocketed in the United States over the past decade.

“Nearly 7 million Americans are abusing prescription drugs,” says a DEA fact sheet on the issue. “More than the number who are abusing cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens, Ecstasy and inhalants, combined.”

When used as prescribed by a doctor, the drugs are safe. But when abused, prescription medications can be just as deadly as any other drugs.

This weekend's drop-offs will be a simpler process than the police department's ongoing prescription drug take-back program.

In that program — which is available year-round — residents similarly bring in pills, but must sit down with an officer and have the medications identified, counted, sealed and signed for.

“That way, there's a paper trail,” said McCaslin, “but it also can be time-consuming, depending on how many are brought in.”

On Saturday, residents will basically be able to dump their medications in a box and head on their way.

Additionally, while the ongoing takeback program focuses on controlled substances like pain killers, residents are free to bring in regular over-the-counter medications on Saturday. However, folks need to find another way to dispose of their needles and syringes, chemotherapy and radioactive drugs, oxygen containers and pressurized canisters.

Officials generally advise against disposing of extra medications in a toilet or sink, as that can potentially contaminate water supplies. If throwing medications away, citizens are encouraged to crush or dissolve the medicines in water and mix them with an undesirable substance like kitty litter or coffee grounds, discouraging any dumpster divers or curious children and pets.

McCaslin said he hopes the national Drug Enforcement Administration will choose to host takeback days multiple times a year.

Editor's note: This version corrects the name of the Drug Enforcement Administration.