"6Narcotics 7opiates obviously are an obvious problem for people."
And unused 8prescription drugs that are thrown in the trash can be 9retrieved, 10abused, or illegally sold. One reason it's 11critical to properly dispose of them. And that's not all.
"If there's stuff in your medicine cabinet, your teenage kids or other people can get into it, or other people that are having maybe a mental health emergency and they decide to take everything in the cabinet, which I've seen a lot of as an 12emergency physician."
Stephen Maher with Mayo Clinic says flushing pills is also common, but it can have 13devastating environmental effects.
"That can actually cause problems going through the 14sewage treatment plant and can actually get into the 15groundwater into the soil."
On Saturday, the Drug Enforcement Administration is hosting National Prescription Drug Take back Day. People can drop off unused or expired medications with no questions asked for free and safe disposal. That includes prescription drugs, 16over-the-counter medications, 17ointmentspatches, creams, 18inhalers and 19vials, pet medications, and nonaerosol medicine.
"Type in your zip code and address and you can find several locations while they're willing to take it back, usually at, like police departments or pharmacies."
