The City of Mountlake Terrace Police Department will be participating in the Snohomish County Drug Task Force’s “Drug Take Back Saturday” on October 29, 2011. Residents may drop off unwanted or unused prescription medications (except for samples from physicians’ offices) to Police Department staff between 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. at the police station located at 5906 232nd Street SW.

Police ask people to leave items in their original containers and black out any personal information except the name of the medication. Persons dropping off unused medications do not need to provide their name, only ZIP codes for research purposes.

The Snohomish County Partnership for Secure Medicine Disposal provides locations throughout Snohomish County for people to drop off unwanted vitamins, cold medicines, painkillers, inhalers and other medications. For details and hours, call the program information line at (425) 388-3199.

Officials are hopeful that these programs will reduce the number of drug overdoses, accidental poisonings, and people becoming dependent on prescription painkillers. It is also intended to educate people about the dangers of prescription drug abuse.

For further information about the program, contact Beth Menstell at (425) 670-8620.