Maine is participating in the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day this month at multiple drop off points throughout the state.

Piotr Sikora/ThinkStock
Piotr Sikora/ThinkStock
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Local police, nonprofit organizations and state departments are partnering to collect unused and expired prescription medication on Saturday, April 26.

In recent years, Maine has topped the nation in the number of pills collected per person through the twice annual take-back events.

Sponsored by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Drug Take Back Day addresses  a vital public safety issue for people of all ages. Prescription drug abuse is a rapidly growing crisis in Maine communities. A majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including the home medicine cabinet.

A spokesperson for Healthy Maine Partnerships says the commonly abused medications are often taken from elderly citizens who do not know what to do with excess pills. Some of the medications are powerful painkillers that enforcement officials say are part of a national drug epidemic.

Police Departments in Presque Isle, Caribou, Fort Fairfield, Limestone, Washburn, Ashland, Van Buren, Fort Kent, Madawaska and Houlton are among the agencies in Aroostook County serving as drop off points on April 26.

If you have unwanted, unused, or out-of-date prescription drugs and want to safely dispose of them, this is a great opportunity to do it. You can find up-to-date information on drop-off locations in Maine at The U.S. Department of Justice website. New sites are added daily. You can also call 2-1-1 or  1-800-882-9539 for more information.

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