The Kirkland Police Department will participate in the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) “National Prescription Take-Back Day” and will be accepting potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 30 at Kirkland City Hall, 123 Fifth Ave.

Kirkland residents can bring medications for disposal to the KPD lobby located at the south entrance of City Hall. The service is free and anonymous. For more information about the campaign, go to www.nationaltakebackday.com/.

According to DEA, 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 the U.S. 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, Americans 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.

As part of its Recycling Program, the city’s Public Works Department encourages residents to return unwanted medicines. For a list of local authorized collection sites, visit www.kirklandwa.gov (Search: Medicine Return).