It’s nearly time for another prescription drug take-back day.

On Saturday, April 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the public its 13th opportunity in seven years to prevent prescription drug abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs.

Bring your pills for disposal to Fountain Hills Town Hall located at 16705 East Avenue of the Fountains or the Fort McDowell Public Safety building located at 10755 N. Fort McDowell Rd. Organizers cannot accept liquids or needles or sharps, only pills or patches. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

According to organizers, this initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in Arizona are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.

In addition, Arizonans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.

For more information about preventing prescription drug abuse, go to fhcoalition.org. If you can’t make the event, a permanent prescription drug drop box is available inside Town Hall during regular business hours.