HOUSTON — Saturday is national DEA Drug Take Back Day.
Anyone can drop off unused or expired medications at specified collection sites.
It's important to safely get rid of the meds. Unused prescription drugs that are thrown in the trash can be retrieved and then abused or illegally sold.
"If there's stuff in your medicine cabinet, your teenage kids or other people can get into it or other people that are having, you know, maybe a mental health emergency and they decide to take everything in their cabinet, which I've seen a lot of as an emergency physician," Dr.Stephen Maher with the Mayo Clinic.
Flushing pills down the toilet can cause problems at sewage treatment plants and can actually get into the groundwater and soil.
Find a pill drop-off location near you. Simply visit DEA.gov/TakeBackDay, type in your zip code and address and drop off unused or expired medications. That includes pet medications. There are no questions asked.