This Saturday, October 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (local time), the federal Drug Enforcement Administration and its local law enforcement, community and tribal partners will give the public its 14th opportunity in seven years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. Individuals can take pills and other solid forms of medication to one of almost 5,000 collection sites manned by more than 4,000 partners nationwide (Liquids, needles or sharps cannot be accepted, however). You can find nearby collection sites at www.DEATakeBack.com or by calling 800-882-9539. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

Locally, prescription drug drop off sites can be found at the Atlantic Police Department inside the City Hall building, in Red Oak at the Hy-Vee Store (Montgomery County Sheriff’s drop-off site), and at the Glenwood Police Department, and Walgreens, in Council Bluffs.

Nationwide last April the public turned in 450 tons (900,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at almost 5,500 sites operated by the DEA and more than 4,200 of its state and local law enforcement partners. Overall, in its 13 previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in over 8.1 million pounds—more than 4,050 tons—of pills.