Got drugs and don't want 'em? Don't worry, you can get rid of 'em.

On Saturday, April 27, its National Drug Take Back Day. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Seattle Police Department and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will allow the public to rid their homes of potentially dangerous, expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs. All of the precincts, including the North Precinct (10049 College Way N), will be accepting unwanted drugs -- completely free and anonymous, no questions asked.

Find out which one is closest by visiting SPD's precinct map page at http://www.seattle.gov/police/maps/precinct_map.htm and clicking on one of the precinct icons.

Last September was a huge success. Americans turned in 244 tons of prescription drugs at over 5,200 sites operated by the DEA and local law enforcement partners. So far, in the five previous events, the total has amounted to over 2 million pounds -- over a thousand tons -- of pills.

SPD says: "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 family medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medications – flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash – both pose potential safety and health hazards."

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