Saturday is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, and Attorney General Jeff Landry is encouraging Louisiana residents to participate in the day’s numerous events around the State.

“More than half of the patients prescribed opioid painkillers have or expect to have extra pills left over, and one-fifth of those individuals share their pills with a friend or family member,” Landry said. “This is a problem of epidemic proportions, and we want to do all we legally can to end it.”

The Bogalusa Police Department, the Washington Parish Coalition on Human Services and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the public an opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs on Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Nielsen’s Pharmacy, located at 1619 S. Columbia St.

The DEA cannot accept liquids, needles or sharps, only expired prescription drugs, unwanted prescription drugs, over-the-counter, controlled and non-controlled substances. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. A BPD representative will be on hand.

Landry’s office has teamed up with several sheriff offices, police departments, fire departments, and area hospitals to help host other drug take back events across the state, organized by the Drug Enforcement Agency. These efforts provide people avenues for safe and proper disposal of expired, unused, or unwanted prescription drugs.

“More than 70,000 emergency room visits each year result from medication accidents by children under age 18,” Landry said. “So for the safety of our children and families, I encourage all Louisianans to do some spring cleaning and drop off their leftover prescriptions drugs.”

Landry previously joined with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana and the National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators to provide permanent prescription drug drop boxes — free of charge — to law enforcement offices across Louisiana.

The list of all of Saturday’s drop off sites in Louisiana may be found online at www.agjefflandry.com/Article/7571/5. And the current list of permanent drop boxes in the state may be found at www.EndTheEpidemicLA.org.