Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt is encouraging residents to take unused prescription drugs to drop-off sites Saturday.

The sites are operated by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration as part of its National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. The DEA's website lists 54 sites in 43 Kansas communities.

Schmidt says the disposal of unused, unwanted and expired medications is free and anonymous.

The attorney general says many people who abuse prescription drugs get them get them from the family's medicine cabinet or obtain them from friends. Also, Schmidt says, having unused prescriptions around the house can lead to accidental poisonings. Schmidt adds that flushing drugs down the toilet or throwing them in the trash can create environmental problems.

To find a drop-off site near you, or for more information about the program, check out the DEA website by clicking here. Or, just click on the words "Related Links" below this story.