List: You can turn in expired, unneeded prescription drugs Saturday at Johnson, Linn County sites

In an effort to reduce prescription drug abuse, the Drug Enforcement Administration is hosting its annual Drug Take Back event on Saturday, allowing people to dispose of unused medications, thereby lessening the chance they can be stolen and abused.

It's a chance for people to run in expired, unused or otherwise unneeded prescription drugs for destruction at no cost.

Last year, roughly 6,000 collection sites collected nearly 1 million pounds of prescription medications.

The DEA launched the take-back program when the Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug Administration advised the usual methods for disposing of unused medicines, such as flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash, posed safety and health hazards.

This Saturday, law enforcement officials will be stationed in the Corridor between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to collect unwanted medications.

All medications in pill or patch form are accepted free and anonymously. Liquids, needles and sharps cannot be collected.

The drop-off locations and sponsoring agencies include:

Linn County

' Hiawatha Police Department lobby, 101 Emmons St., Hiawatha

' Linn County Sheriff's Office, 310 Second Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids

' Marion Police Department, 6315 Highway 151, Marion

' Cedar Rapids Police Department, Sunner Memorial Park, 701 Valor Way SW

Johnson County

' Johnson County Sheriff's Office, 511 S. Capitol St.

' Coralville Police Department, 1503 Fifth St.

' Coralville Hy-Vees, 1914 Eighth St. and 3285 Cross Park Rd.

' Iowa City Police Department, East Side Recycling Center, 2401 Scott Blvd. SE

' North Liberty Police Department, 5 E. Cherry St.

l Comments: (319) 398-8238; kat.russell@thegazette.com