POTSDAM -- SUNY Potsdam's University Police Department is hosting a drug disposal program from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 30 at their office in the Van Housen Hall Extension on campus, as part of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.

The public is encouraged to turn in any unused, unwanted or expired prescription and over-the-counter drugs.

University Police Chief John Kaplan reminds the public that “sharps” and self-injectors will not be accepted.

This program is a part of the U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) national take-back initiative.

It is estimated that more than 7 million Americans abuse prescription drugs, according to the 2009 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration's National Survey on Drug Use and Health. The Partnership for a Drug Free America reports that each day, approximately 2,500 teens use prescription drugs to get high for the first time. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends -- and the home medicine cabinet.

The purpose of the take-back program is to provide a way for people to dispose of unwanted and unused prescription drugs, and to remove potentially dangerous prescription drugs from their medicine cabinets.

The American public turned in more than 121 tons of pills at the first National Take Back Day last September.