SOMERSET, Ky. -- U.S. Rep. Harold "Hal" Rogers (KY-05) invites the public to take a simple step in combatting the drug abuse epidemic on Saturday, April 29 by removing old or unwanted prescriptions in your medicine cabinet and disposing them at a safe local collection site in southern and eastern Kentucky. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) designated this Saturday as the 13th National Take-Back Day from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Thanks to UNITE Community Coalitions, every county in Kentucky's Fifth Congressional District has a Med-Return Box located at a local Sheriff's office or city police department for safe disposal.

Every day in America, 91 people die from an opioid overdose, according the Centers for Disease and Control. And recent studies have shown about 80 percent of prescription opioid pills are either given to or stolen from family members or friends of the user. 

"Cleaning out your medicine cabinet is an easy way for you to help fight drug abuse, to make sure that family members, friends and other visitors don't illegally take your prescription painkillers," said Congressman Rogers. "Thanks to the DEA, you can safely get rid of unwanted prescriptions and keep them out of the hands of potential abusers." 

To kick-off the national event on Wedneday, Congressman Rogers participated in the DEA's Take-Back Day on Capitol Hill. The DEA and its partners have received and dipsosed of more than 7.1 million pounds of prescription pills since the awareness campaign began more than a decade ago. 

Last April, Operation UNITE reported more than a ton of unwanted medications was collected from 42 dropbox locations across southern and eastern Kentucky. 

In addition to the UNITE Coalition Med-Return locations, you can search additional safe local drop-off spots on the DEA's website. 

The take-back service is free and anonymous.