DAPHNE, Ala. — The police department, in cooperation with the Drug Enforcement Administration, will collect unwanted prescription drugs on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 1502 U.S. Highway 98.

The event aims to prevent addicts from accessing disposed-of pills.

“The information we were getting from the DEA was that last year was such a success that we decided to get involved to see what we could do to help,” Lt. Jud Beedy said of a past drive.

Two common ways to dispose of prescription drugs — flushing them down the toilet and throwing them in the trash — could potentially cause dangerous situations, the police department said.

“Unfortunately in the past most people have just disposed of their old drugs by flushing them down the toilet or throwing them into the garbage. We found out some people who are addicted to drugs will go to the dumps and go through the garbage and dig them out,” Beedy said. “Or when it gets into the sewer system and the water treatment plant, it can affect the environment. We hope that not only will we solve the crime but we will do something good for the environment and keep people from attempting to find these drugs by other methods.”

The department hopes to help residents rid their homes of potentially dangerous drugs, whether they are expired, unused or simply unwanted. The longer prescription drugs remain in a home, the more likely it is the drugs will be misused, or shared with a friend or family member. 

The police department will take the drugs and properly dispose of them without charge, no questions asked.

“People can bring their old or expired prescription drugs in and one of our officers will be there standing by to take them from them and drop them in the box. We in turn will send them to the DEA and they will destroy them. We won’t take any illegal narcotics. Don’t come turn in your crack or marijuana that has gone bad. Pretty much besides that, we will take any prescription medication,” Beedy said.

Beedy said he hopes taking drugs off the street will help the community. 

“Hopefully it will have a huge impact. Prescription drugs is one of the most abused drugs now. Teenagers are getting a hold of them and they are taking them out of their family’s medicine cabinets. Hopefully, we will reduce the amount of teenagers that are using narcotics and hopefully reduce the amount of crime that is being committed,” Beedy said.

A nationwide initiative to take back drugs last September took 242,000 pounds of drugs off the streets.

According to a national survey conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, in 2007, 2.8 percent of the U.S. population ages 12 and over said they misused prescription drugs in the previous month.

Beedy said he hopes at least 50 people come out to properly dispose of their prescription drugs.

“This is the first year we have been involved but we expect several people to come down,” Beedy said.

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