WALLACE — In an effort to keep prescription drugs out of the wrong hands and out of our water supply, the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office announced on Monday that they will be actively participating in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.

Held on Saturday, April 27, an SCSO representative will be available in the Sheriff’s Office’s lobby from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. that day to speak with citizens and accept any unwanted and outdated prescription drugs.

SCSO Captain Jeremy Groves explains that the once a year event is designed to facilitate the proper disposal of prescription medication.

“Some of the ways you might have prescriptions that need disposed of are outdated prescribed medication for yourself, after the result of a death in the family or found items after a purchase of a home,” he said. “Regardless if they were prescribed to you or not, the prescription drugs can be dropped off for destruction.”

If these medications are not properly disposed of, those in possession of them run the risk of having them fall into the wrong hands — such as children or criminals.

Just last week, a Silver Valley resident posted to a local Facebook group page that a deceased man’s home in Pine Creek was broken into just one day after his passing. In this case, medications that may still have been left in the home after the resident’s death become tempting targets for addicts. Properly disposing of medications eliminates this problem.

“We find it important to participate in the Take Back Day, like many agencies around the nation, so we know items can be properly disposed of and not out sitting somewhere or getting passed around,” Groves said. “Prescription medication addictions are one of many addiction issues in the nation and having those items properly disposed of means that is one less chance for the items to end up in the wrong hands.”

Two things that will not be accepted during the event are sharps (needles) of any kind and illegal narcotics. SCSO asks that if you find or locate what you believe to be illegal narcotics, contact law enforcement so they can come to you and properly deal with them.

If you are unable to make the event, there is a collection box in the lobby of the Sheriff’s Office that is accessible to the public for disposal of prescription drugs year-round.