The Arlington and Marysville police departments are participating in the Drug Take-Back Day Saturday, Sept. 27.

The Drug Take-Back program is a tool in the fight against drug abuse, including the growing heroin epidemic.

“Many of today’s heroin addicts started with prescription drug abuse,” Snohomish Regional Drug Task Force Cmdr. Pat Slack said.

Slack said the abuse of prescription drugs like oxycodone is often a gateway for many of today’s heroin users because opioid prescription painkillers have the same effect on the brain and body as heroin.

When the supply of prescription drugs runs out, users turn to the nearest (and often cheaper) alternative: heroin.

“We know we cannot fight the problem through arrest and incarceration alone,” Slack said.  “We need Snohomish County communities to help us get opioid prescription drugs out of the hands of those who will abuse or misuse them.”

The goal of the Drug Take-Back Day is to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the public about the potential for abuse of medications.

More than 390 tons of prescription drugs were brought to more than 6,000 collection sites across the U.S. for Drug Take-Back Day in April. More than 2 1/2 tons of unwanted medicines were disposed of in Snohomish County alone.

• Arlington Police Department: 110 E. 3rd St., 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• Marysville Police Department: 1635 Grove St. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.