The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration, will collect expired or unused prescription drugs for free on Saturday, Oct. 26, as part of National Prescription Take Back Day.

Research by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reports that almost half of teenagers (47%) say it’s easy to get prescription drugs from a parent’s medicine cabinet and one in for report taking a prescription drug not prescribed to them at least once in their lives.

The annual one-day event is aimed at reducing the risk of overdose and overdose deaths by providing a safe and secure location to dispose of unusable prescription medications while also educating the public about preventing medication misuse and opioid addiction.

It’s easy to participate in this year’s Drug Take Back event. Stop by one of the following collection sites, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., on Saturday, Oct. 26 and drop items in the designated bin.

• Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, 200 Jefferson County Pkwy., Golden (Located in the NW visitors’ parking lot off Weimer and 10th St.)

• Dakota Ridge High School, West Parking Lot, 13399 W. Coal Mine Ave., Littleton (Located in the main parking lot near the stop light)

• Marshdale Elementary School, Roundabout, 26663 N, Turkey Creek Road, Evergreen

Items accepted for drop-off include over-the-counter medications, prescription drugs, liquid medications (sealed and in original containers), prescription patches, medicated ointments, and vitamins. Pet medications are also accepted.

However, certain items are prohibited, including trash, sharps or syringes, thermometers, chemotherapy medications, and illicit substances such as marijuana.

Can’t make it to NDTB Day?

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office has installed four safe permanent disposal drop boxes at the following locations for year-round use:

• Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Lobby, 200 Jefferson County Parkway, Golden 

• Jefferson County Jail Lobby, 200 Jefferson County Parkway, Golden

• Jefferson County South Precinct, 11139 Bradford Road, Littleton

• Jefferson County Mountain Precinct, 4990 County Highway 73, Evergreen

The Sheriff’s Office acquired the drop boxes through the Colorado Household Medication Take-Back Program, managed by the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE). Collected medications are securely packaged and sent off-site, where they are converted into renewable energy.

For more information, visit www.takemedsseriously.org/safe-disposal/.