That bottle of old prescription drugs at the bottom of the medicine cabinet is itching for a new home: In a trash can at one of the drop-off sites open to Idahoans on Saturday, April 30.

National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day provides an easy, anonymous way to get rid of unused and expired medications. This can help reduce theft and drug abuse. Collection sites are open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Treasure Valley sites include:

• Expo Idaho / Western Idaho Fairgrounds, 5610 N. Glenwood St., Garden City
• Idaho Blue Cross, 3000 E. Pine Ave., Meridian
• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1985 N. Black Cat Road, Meridian
• Caldwell Police Department, 110 S. Fifth Ave., Caldwell
• Emmett Police Department, 501 E. Main St., Emmett
• Elmore County Sheriff’s Office/Mountain Home Police Department, 2775 E. 8th N., Mountain Home

Visit www.dea.gov/takebackday to find the nearest collection site. New sites can be added until April 30.

The National Survey of Drug Use and Health found that most Americans who abuse prescription drugs obtain the drugs through family and friends, often from the medicine cabinet at home.

Based on the survey, more than 55,000 Idahoans ages 12 and older abused prescription pain relievers between 2019 and 2020, according to a press release from the Idaho Office of Drug Policy.

“Additionally, results from the 2019 Idaho Youth Risk Behavior and Idaho Healthy Youth Surveys revealed that nearly 23% of Idaho 12th graders reported abusing a prescription drug one or more times in their lifetime. “, reads the press release. More than 41% of those 12th graders had received the drugs from a family member or friend, and more than 60% abused them at home, the statement said.

There were 287 drug overdose-related deaths among Idaho residents and 4,548 drug overdose-related emergency room visits in Idaho in 2020, the statement said, citing Department of Health data. Idaho Health and Wellness.

“When left in a medicine cabinet, discarded or rinsed away, unused prescriptions can be hazardous to people, animals and the environment,” the statement said.

There are collection sites that accept unused and expired medications year-round, including pharmacies and law enforcement agencies. Visit odp.idaho.gov to find these locations.