Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge is encouraging Arkansans to clean out their medicine cabinets and bring any unused or expired medications to one of the state's more than 250 Prescription Drug Take Back Day drop-off locations on Saturday, October 24.

  Searcy County Sheriff Kenny Cassell said Searcy County will hold their drug take back event on Friday, October 23, from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. in the Los Aztecas parking lot located at 234 Hwy. 65N in Marshall.

  "This is an opportunity for local residents to bring their used and/or expired medications for proper disposal. Even your pet's medications are accepted," Cassell said. "Overdose abuse statistics are staggering, but cleaning out medicine cabinets and turning the expired, unused medications over to law enforcement during a Drug Take Back event can save lives."

  Rutledge added, "With overdoses on the rise during the pandemic, now more than ever we must continue to properly dispose of these prescription drugs."

  Prescription Drug Take Back Day is held semi-annually with the Arkansas Attorney General's office, Arkansas Department of Health, Arkansas Department of Human Services, Arkansas National Guard, Arkansas Rotary Clubs, Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy, DEA, FBI, Office of the State Drug Director and over 130 additional law enforcement and government agencies, community organizations and public health providers.

  Event sites are held at various locations across the state but year-round locations are also available and can be found at ARTakeBack.org. The Attorney General's office also hosts take back events at mobile offices around the State. Since the program began, more than 72 tons of medication have been collected in Arkansas, which is an estimated 201 million individual pills.