Saturday is National Prescription Take Back Day, a twice-a-year opportunity for us to collect the expired and unused prescription drugs in our homes and dispose of them safely. Having those drugs around the home can be dangerous. They can become lost, stolen and sold illegally, or misused by friend, neighbor or another member of the family. Such a scenario could become a life-or-death situation for someone you love. It could start, restart or deepen an addiction. It could lead someone to any of a litany of bad choices. In a state like West Virginia, which already has felt the scourge of opioid addiction, an event like this is crucial.

There will be three sites total on either side of the Ohio River for locals to take those prescriptions. The Ohio County Sheriff’s Office will man a location at Elm Grove Pharmacy. The Wheeling Police Department will man a location at the Mount DeChantal Kroger. And the Belmont County Sheriff’s Office will man a location at the Riesbeck’s in Bridgeport.

Tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms of prescription drugs are accepted. Liquids, needles/sharps, and illicit drugs are not. These drop-offs are helping around the Mountain State. At the last Take Back Day in October, there were 68 drop-off sites in West Virginia that collected a total of 4,192 pounds, leading to an all-time total of 145.838 pounds.

Don’t let leftover prescriptions in a corner of your house lead to a major problem.