Carrollton is rolling out the welcome mat for National Prescription Drug Take Back Day this Saturday. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., locals can swing by the Carrollton Police Station at 2025 E. Jackson Road to safely ditch their old meds, no questions asked. It's all part of a larger effort spearheaded by the DEA to keep unused drugs out of the wrong hands—and our water supply.

Whether it's painkillers you don't need anymore or that cough syrup collecting dust in the back of the medicine cabinet, if it's expired or just unwanted, it can be dropped off. Just remember to keep those liquids sealed up, and beware; inhalers, sharps, and bulk items from medical facilities won't cut this clean-up crusade—plus, don't even think about illegal substances. These items won't be collected, and there's a different process for stuff like sharps, handled by the city's solid waste service provider Republic Services, according to the City of Carrollton, Texas.

The importance of this event is underscored by chilling DEA stats, the kind that give pause—18.6 million Americans over 12 abusing controlled prescription drugs over the last year. And here's the kicker: teens often get these drugs from the friendly family medicine cabinet, turning homes into unintentional dealers. The DEA's one-day drug roundup is seen as a key move in the war on misuse.

Since 2017, Carrollton has pulled over 10,749 pounds of meds out of circulation, a small dent in a big problem. But it's not just about a single day. The city's police department jail lobby drop box will take your prescription leftovers year-round—statements like medication samples, pills, and even Fido's expired meds. Just leave anything marked biohazard and sharps like needles out of it, those go through the Household Hazardous Waste program with Republic Services. Residents need to download a form from the city's website and email it to set up a pick-up for those trickier to dispose of items.