T-L Photo/MIRANDA SEBROSKI Riesbeck’s stores are teaming up with local police departments for Drug Take Back Day on Saturday. The stores will have a place to drop off unwanted prescriptions that could fall into the hands of addicts or curious children.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Businesses and organizations across the Buckeye State are working this week to help keep drugs out of the wrong hands.

Drug Take Back Day will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. The occasion aims to provide a safe and convenient way to dispose of unused or expired prescription drugs while also educating the public about drug abuse.

According to the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, 6.4 million Americans abused controlled prescription drugs in 2015.

The agency’s study shows that a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.

A variety of drugs are prescribed by doctors to treat pain, mental illness and other conditions. Abuse of such prescriptions is common and can be fatal.

Wintersville Police Department Chief Art Sowler said his department will be working with the Riesbeck’s store in Steubenville as a prescription drop-off location on Saturday. Sowler said he has been working with DEA to arrange such drop-off locations for around seven years.

He also said the Wintersville Police Department organizes two drop-off days a year and collects around 750 pounds of prescription drugs annually.

Drug Take Back Day “helps get unwanted prescription drugs out of households,” Sowler said. “It is beneficial so kids will not get into the prescriptions if they get curious. It also prevents addicts from taking the drugs out of someone’s house as well.”

Belmont County Sheriff’s Department Detective Randy Stewart said Riesbeck’s locations in in St. Clairsville, Shadyside and Bridgeport will be participating as drop-off locations as well with tables set up in the front of the stores with information and collection bins monitored by officers. Belmont County Chief Deputy James Zusak said disposing of unwanted prescriptions will help prevent abuse.

“We need to get these drugs away from people who could abuse them,” Zusak said. “It is easy for someone to just take something out of someone’s house like that.”

People who are not able to drop off prescriptions on Drug Take Back Day can also visit any Belmont County police department. There are drop-off locations for prescriptions at those stations along with one that is available at the sheriff’s office 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The sheriff’s department is located at 68137 Hammond Road, St. Clairsville.

Kroger in Steubenville will also have a drop-off site organized by the Steubenville Police Department on Saturday.

For more information about Drug Take Back Day, contact your local police department or visit takebackday.dea.gov.