Bloglander

Do you have drugs? Like old drugs that you don't want anymore? The DEA wants 'em.

This Saturday, April 28, is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. From 10 am to 2 pm, you can take any expired, unused or unwanted prescription medication to disposal sites throughout Eastern Washington, no questions asked. But they only want your pills and patches. No liquids, needles or sharps.

Disposal sites are: Kennewick Police Department, Pasco Police Department, Pullman Police Department, Richland Police Department, the Walla Walla County Sheriff's Office and the Walla Walla Police Department, West Richland Police Department and Yakima Police Department.

The Spokane Valley Police Department (12710 E. Sprague) is a year-round disposal site, open 8 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday.

During drug-take-back efforts last fall, Americans handed over 456 tons (912,00 pounds) of prescription drugs, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office. Washington state accounted for 15,473 pounds of that total haul. All told, 14 previous Drug Take Back Days have yielded 9 million pounds of pills, according to the news release.

Can't make it this weekend? That's cool. The Food & Drug Administration has some handy tips for how to safely dispose of certain meds. While some pills could be flushed down the toilet, others probably should not.