TOPEKA — Kansans are encouraged to take unused, unwanted medications to designated locations Saturday, Sept. 29, as part of National Drug Take Back Day, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said today.

A directory of designated locations for prescription drug collection is available at www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov or at the www.ag.ks.gov.

The semiannual event — coordinated by the Drug Enforcement Administration — encourages people to clean out their drug cabinets and take in unwanted or expired medications to law enforcement centers so that officers can safely destroy the medications.

Nearly 10 tons of medications have been collected in Kansas in the four previous collection days, according to Schmidt's office.

Agency officials said medicines left in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse.

More Americans abuse prescription drugs than use cocaine, hallucinogens and heroin combined, according to the 2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

Studies show that individuals who abused prescription drugs often obtained them from family or friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. Officials said many Americans do not know how to properly dispose of unused medicine, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away — both potential safety and health hazards.

“Unused prescriptions lingering in medicine cabinets pose a serious risk for accidents or abuse,” Schmidt said. “I encourage all Kansans to take advantage of this opportunity to safely dispose of their unwanted medications by visiting a drop-off site on Saturday.”

Unused prescriptions can be turned in year-round at many local law enforcement locations. For more information, contact the local sheriff’s office or police department.