In an effort to prevent drug addiction and overdose deaths, the Drug Enforcement Administration and its local law enforcement partners will be collecting unused prescription medications this Saturday, April 27.

The Laramie County Sheriff's Office will be at the Safeway at 700 S. Greeley Highway and Laramie County Fire District #2 at 5800 N. College Drive from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

"The purpose of these Drug Take Back Days is to allow citizens to safely dispose of unused and unwanted prescription drugs in an environmentally safe manner and keep those drugs out of the hands of unauthorized persons or juveniles," said Captain Linda Gesell.

Gesell says no illegal drugs, sharps, thermometers, oxygen containers, radioactive materials, pressurized canisters or chemotherapy drugs will be accepted.

The Laramie County Sheriff's Office has taken in over 2,300 pounds of unused and unwanted prescription drugs since the program began in 2009.

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