Get rid of unwanted medicines Saturday in Vernon Hills

Area residents can rid their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs at a take back event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 27 at the Vernon Hills police department, 740 Lakeview Parkway, Vernon Hills. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. Last September, Americans turned in 244 tons of prescription drugs at more than 5,200 sites operated by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration and its thousands of state and local law enforcement partners. In five previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners took in more than 2 million pounds of pills nationally. Medicines in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse, police say. Studies show a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.