BEND, OR -- Saturday is National Medication Take Back Day, and St. Charles Health System is partnering with Bend Police for a local event. 

Bend PD’s Sheila Miller tells KBND News it’s a good time to clear out the medicine cabinet, “We accept all unused medications. Although oncology prescription drugs we can't accept. We do take sharps as well, injectable medications as long as they've been separated and put into a sharps container. We know that people end up with prescription medications that they're done with that, they didn't finish, that maybe they have a family member who has passed away and left a bunch of prescription drugs behind. And it's really important that we properly dispose of unused prescription drugs.” She says it’s a quick process, “No questions asked. We just want to safely dispose of these things. And so. drive through, drop them off and head on your way.”

They do it for a couple of reasons, “It's really important to dispose of them safely first because we don't want people to flush them because that can contaminate the water supply. And then also because throwing them into a trash can, can create an opportunity for someone else to get their hands on them and either abuse them or resell them, that sort of thing,” Miller says.

Debra Pedersen, with St Charles, says pharmacists will also be there, “We’re there to answer questions about ways to safely dispose of your medications outside of the take back because this event only happens twice a year right now. So, we will be able to guide people to some safe options.” The program has been successful in the past. “The first time we did it with the Bend police, I think five or six years ago now, I was worried that no one was going to show up, but we usually have at least a few 100 people come by and drop off medications,” she says, adding over 500 pounds of meds were collected last year.

The National Medication Take Back Day is at the Bend Police Department on 15th street this Saturday, October 28th from 10 AM to 2 PM.