This Saturday is the annual 'National Drug Take Back Day' and local authorities are promoting the benefits of this annual initiative.

Clinton Police Chief Ben Lowers explains this initiative partners local law enforcement and the Drug Enforcement Agency in providing communities a safe place to dispose of unused prescription drugs. He says it keeps those pills from being flushed down the toilet or worse, getting into the wrong hands.

With this weekend's event, Chief Lowers is encouraging everyone to go through their drug cabinets and discard those unused prescriptions. He points out you can do that any time through the Police Department's drop box in the lobby of their downtown office.

Chief Lowers says the program has been well received locally. He indicates 600-700 pounds of unused prescription drugs can be handed over to the DEA in a given cycle. He emphasizes those unused bottles are completely confidential upon submission or some folks put them in plastic bags to take up less space in the depository.

Chief Lowers calls it responsible to hand over those unused drugs to them to hand off for proper disposal to the DEA. 

The depository at the Clinton Police Department is available 24/7 at 118 West Washington Street in Clinton.