ARLINGTON — The Arlington Police Department will be taking back unwanted prescription drugs on Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the police station itself, located at 110 E. Third St. in Arlington. This disposal service is free and anonymous, with no questions asked.

Rates of prescription drug abuse are high throughout the U.S., with studies showing that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends. Snohomish County is likewise combatting record-high numbers of unintentional poisonings in recent years. In 2011, such poisonings affected 150 county residents, more than triple the 46 reported in 2000.

“Unintentional poisonings frequently involve prescription drugs,” said Dr. Gary Goldbaum, Health Officer and Director of the Snohomish Health District, who added that such poisonings not only harm people, but improperly discarded drugs can also harm the environment. Flushing unused medicines down the toilet and throwing them in the trash both pose potential safety and health hazards.