Prescription drug take-back day is Saturday, Oct. 29, at the police station.

And if you want a combination lock box to safeguard your prescriptions drugs at home, you can pick up one of those boxes as well.

The Barrington Police Department and The BAY Team, Barrington’s prevention coalition, will be taking back possible dangerous and expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs for disposal. Stop by from 10 am to 2 pm.

Free and anonymous, there will be no questions asked. Just bring your prescription drugs to the police station in the Public Safety Building on Federal Road.

"The event has a two-fold purpose," said Kathy Sullivan, BAY Team director. "You can get rid of expired drugs and prevent access to medications by people who have an addiction. It is also a safe way to dispose of medications, which often end up in our drinking water after they are flushed."

The drugs will be picked up by a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) officer and then taken somewhere for incineration, Sullivan said.

A couple of BAY Team volunteers will be on hand to provide assistance at the police station, she said. They will hand out the lock boxes as well.

The lock boxes are particularly useful if you have children, especially teens who might invite friends into your home. You can safeguard your medications in your medicine chest.

More Rhode Islanders die from accidental drug overdoses connected to prescriptions than any other cause of death, accordingto the Centers for Disease Control. And teen abuse of prescription drugs is growing.

“A recent survey of Barrington High School students found that 30 percent of students say it is very easy to get stimulant/ADHD medications without a doctor’s order," said Sullivan. "This event is one way to help get unused or expired prescription drugs out of the home and reduce youth access to such medicines. The BAY Team’s Prescription Drug Committee is working to prevent youth access and the potential addiction caused by prescription drug abuse.”

“Prescription drug abuse is the nation’s fastest-growing drug problem, and take-back events like this one are an indispensable tool for reducing the threat that the diversion and abuse of these drugs pose to public health,” said Director of National Drug Control Policy Gil Kerlikowske. “The Federal/state/and local collaboration represented in this initiative is key in our national efforts to reduce pharmaceutical drug diversion and abuse.”

The police station is one of 37 sites across Rhode Island collecting prescription drugs on Saturday.