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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.

“The number of drug-overdose deaths between 2019 and 2020 rose more rapidly in Louisiana than any other state,” Landry said. “Prescription Drug Take Back Day gives every Louisianan the opportunity to make their communities safer by keeping drugs out of the wrong hands.”

Nielsen’s Pharmacy, located at 1619 S. Columbia St. in Bogalusa, will have a drug take-back event on Saturday, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Accepted items will include expired prescription drugs, unwanted prescription drugs, over-the-counter pills, controlled and non-controlled substances. Un-accepted items will include liquid products, injectable drugs and syringes.

In addition, there is also a drug take back box located outside the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office in Franklinton. This box is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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 organized by the Drug Enforcement Agency on Saturday. These efforts provide people avenues for safe and proper disposal of expired, unused, or unwanted prescription drugs.

“Our fight against the opioid epidemic must take a full commitment from the public,” Landry said. “The DEA’s events this Saturday make it easy for all of us to participate.”

The complete list of DEA events with full addresses and partnering law enforcement agencies may be found online at takebackday.dea.gov.

Landry has also partnered with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana and the National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators to provide nearly 80 permanent prescription drug drop boxes — free of charge — to law enforcement agencies across 50 parishes in Louisiana. This program includes the one at the WPSO headquarters in Franklinton.

The current list of permanent drop boxes in the state may be found online at www.endtheepidemicla.org.