The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office is asking residents to take part in National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day in order to avoid the hazardous disposal of unused drugs. People, taking part in the event, can drop off expired and unused medications at any drop box locations set up in the county.

The Sheriff's Office has gathered over 30,000 pounds of medications since 2010. According to Kelly Hoover, Sheriff's Office spokeswoman, residents can use these drop boxes anytime, and Saturday is an opportunity to spread more awareness on the issue.

According to her, "Most people have medications in their house that are old and expired. By having that in the home, it's easy for it to get into the wrong hands".

Officials said that unused medications can pose a danger both for the environment and people. According to them, teenagers and young adults are misusing medications taken from their parents' or grandparents' medicine cupboard.

They also said it is important to know that medications should not be flushed down the toilet or put in the trash. Wastewater treatment facilities are not aimed at handling material that is usually found in medications so they pass without treatment into water system.

People can seek answer to their questions as Sheriff's deputy will answer queries from 10 am to 2 pm at drop boxes that have been placed at the Solvang substation and at Sheriff's Headquarters in Santa Barbara. There will also be a community resource deputy at the Lemon Festival in Goleta to answer queries. However, no drop box will be there at that location.