The University of Utah Police Department will participate in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s 10th annual National Prescription Drug Take-Back event on Sept. 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Expired, unused and unwanted prescriptions can be taken to the University of Utah Police Department at 1735 E. South Campus Drive. Additional drop-off locations are available throughout the valley and can be found online.

Only pills and patches will be accepted. Guidelines for how to dispose of liquids, needles or sharps can be found on the DEA’s website. U pharmacy students will be available to answer questions regarding medications.

This past September, Americans turned in 309 tons of prescription drugs at nearly 5,500 sites operated by the DEA and more than 4,000 of its state and local law enforcement partners. When those results are combined with what was collected in the eight previous events, more than 4.8 million pounds of drugs were collected.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Rates of prescriptions drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that many abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from home medicine cabinets. In addition, many people do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicines, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away – both potential safety and health hazards.

More information about the disposal of prescription drugs and the take-back event can be found at the DEA’s Office of Diversion Control website.