The Drug Enforcement Agency’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is tomorrow: Saturday, October 26.

This day has evolved over the years to address the growing opioid crisis, including misuse and abuse of unused prescription painkillers, and to prevent further drug addiction and overdose deaths. According to the DEA’s Take Back Day website, a staggering 9.9 million Americans have misused controlled prescription drugs. Take Back Day responds to a critical public safety issue since most abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet. So, amid concerns of both liability and public health, we believe New York state health care providers and patients should fully support and promote this day of action and reflection.

This Saturday, the DEA encourages everyone to clean out their medicine cabinets and bring unused or expired prescription medication to a designated location. Collection sites are listed on the Take Back Day website.