WHEELING — Local law enforcement agencies across the Northern Panhandle will be accepting unused and expired prescription medication from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday as a part of Drug Take Back Day.

The Drug Enforcement Administration holds the annual event to reduce the risks of having extra prescription substances accessible in homes. The program, which started during the height of the opioid epidemic, is an opportunity to clean out medicine cabinets while preventing drug abuse and other potential dangers.

“Part of what evolved out of this whole effort was not only addressing the abuse of pills but also found that it was addressing a very real safety concern because having pills and outdated medications and sometimes forgotten medications somewhere in the bathroom, closet or cabinet was a real danger to children and others who might be involved in an accidental poisoning,” said Randolph Bernard, acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia.

The program also helps keep drugs from being disposed of in a way that harms the environment, like ending up in the water or landfills.

The DEA saw an increase in drugs collected as the program got more publicized over the years. However it has leveled off because the amount of opioids on the streets have decreased steadily due to state and nationwide efforts to combat addiction to opioids and other prescription medications.

“It’s not just opioids, there are many other medications out there that can be very dangerous if used by the wrong person,” Bernard said.

The DEA disposes of the medications that are collected on drug take back day through destroying them or disposing of them responsibly at regulated disposal sites to ensure that they are not being released back into the environment or causing further harm.

“To me it’s common sense, if you take 10,000 tons of pills off the street and safely dispose of them, you are reducing abuse. [Plus] the safety of children and the positive impact on the environment goes without saying that it absolutely has had a positive impact and will continue,” Bernard said.

Having old or unused medications in the home is not alway something thought of as a risk, Bernard said.

“We do so much to protect our homes from things like fire and theft and we child-proof electrical outlets and all kinds of areas for our children yet medicine was never considered this safety threat even though they languish in bathroom cabinets and could lead to accidental poisonings or misuse or abuse,” he said.

A substantial portion of misused drugs are attained from family and friends. While that doesn’t mean that every person who uses a drug will overdose or struggle with addiction, getting rid of these unused substances reduces the risk, Bernard said.

“Why leave that to chance when you could easily take inventory in your bathroom cabinet or wherever you store your pills and safely dispose of them?” he asked.

Take back locations will accept any solid forms of prescription drugs like tablets, capsules and patches. Liquids like cough syrups must remain sealed and in their original containers. Vaping devices and cartridges can also be dropped off if their batteries are removed. No sharps or illegal substances will be accepted.

Upper Ohio Valley residents can drop off unused medications at the Wheeling Police Department, Kroger pharmacy, Riesbeck’s Food Markets and the Belmont County Sheriff’s Office. More local drop off locations can be found by visiting the DEA website.