The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and its community partners will hold the fourth semi-annual National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on, Sept. 29. Collection sites, where unused, unneeded or expired prescription medications can be turned in, will be available across the nation.

Unused or expired prescription medications are a public safety issue and may cause accidental poisoning, overdose and abuse, according to the DEA. Homes with children or elderly persons are especially vulnerable.

“When medications age, they lose potency and become less effective and may even become dangerous,” said John Lubkowski, RMH Pharmacy Operations Manager. “Saving antibiotics for a later infection may make the germs resistant to the antibiotics if you use the wrong one or do not take them long enough to cure the infection. Also, having medications around the house makes it easy for children or teens to get into things they shouldn't be taking.”

The DEA and the Food and Drug Administration discourage disposal of unused medications by flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the garbage due to potential safety, health and environmental hazards.

RMH Healthcare, the City of Harrisonburg, Rockingham County and Home Instead Senior Care sponsor Drug Take-Back Day.

Medications may be dropped off at the following locations:

• Rockingham County Fairgrounds—4808 South Valley Pike Road, Harrisonburg.
• Harrisonburg Police Department —101 N. Main Street, Harrisonburg.

Drugs may be left in their original containers or emptied into bins at the collection sites. After drugs are collected, they will be incinerated according to federal and state guidelines.

The drugs collected will be in the custody of a law enforcement officer until they are incinerated.

No questions will be asked of anyone about the drugs brought for disposal. No syringes, marijuana or other street drugs should be left at disposal sites.

To learn more about the dangers of expired and unused prescription drugs, visit GetSmartAboutDrugs.com, a website for parents, and JustThinkTwice.com, a site for teens.