MARION COUNTY — The Marion County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration will give the public its 15th opportunity in seven years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.

Bring your pills for disposal to the Marion County Jail at 204 North Washington Street in Salem from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 28.

The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. Last fall, Americans turned in 4,500 tons or over 9 million pounds of prescription drugs at more than 5,300 sites operated by the DEA and more than 4,300 of its state and local law enforcement partners.

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 of flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash, pose potential safety and health hazards.

It should be noted that the DEA cannot accept liquids or needles or sharps, only pills or patches.

For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the April 28 Take Back Day event, call the Sheriff’s Office at 548-2141.