WICHITA, Kan. (KAKE) - Saturday is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, a day where law enforcement encourage people to give them leftover prescription medications they might still have in their medicine cabinet.

People can bring the prescriptions to law enforcement, who will dispose of them properly.


"They just need to show up, they can just drop it off. There's no questions asked. We don't need their information,” said Wichita Police Captain Travis Rakestraw.

A number of agencies are participating, including the Wichita Police Department, The Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office, Haysville Police, and more. The goal is to get rid of leftover prescription drugs so that they do not fall into the wrong hands, especially those of little children.

“People shouldn't leave drugs, things like that, that aren't being used lying around. You never know when kids could get hold of them. Bad things can happen,” said Rakestraw.

Dr. Amy Seery, a pediatrician with Ascension Via Christi, agrees.

“Maybe you had a surgery and you have some pain medication. It's actually not a good idea to keep around for a rainy day,” said Seery.

Seery says she often sees children show up at the hospital because someone left powerful drugs where they shouldn't have.

“Unfortunately, younger kids are really devious and get into things and they put things in their mouth they shouldn't. It is a very common admission in our hospital system to have a child that ingested something they shouldn't,” said Seery. She also says, it is important to keep these drugs away from some young ones who may actually go looking for them.

“There's a lot of exploratory behavior that happens in adolescence. And there's also the teens that are thinking well maybe I want to do something to feel a little better or help me concentrate for a test,” said Seery.

Once the prescription medications are given to law enforcement, they will give it to The Drug Enforcement Administration.

For locations and times of when you can drop off your prescription drugs at a place near you click here.