The Boonville Police and Fire Departments will be taking back unwanted prescription drugs later this month.

A news release says the event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 24, at the fire department, located at 500 Bingham Road.

This will be the public’s 17th opportunity in 10 years to dispose of unwanted prescription drugs to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs.

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 prescription 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 a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.

Residents can bring their pills for disposal. The DEA cannot accept liquids or needles or sharps, only pills or patches. The service is free and anonymous— no questions asked.

If you cannot turn in your unwanted prescription drugs on the above date, you can drop them off at the Boonville Police Department, located at 401 East Morgan Street anytime before the event.