Looking for an extra way to be productive and make a difference on Saturday? How about clearing out your drawers and cabinets of any unused or expired prescription drugs that should be thrown away?

Saturday is National Prescription Drug Takeback Day, during which law enforcement agencies provide a safe way to anonymously dispose of medications as a means to prevent drug misuse and abuse.

“When each of us takes responsibility for safely disposing of medications, we take a meaningful step toward ending the cycle of addiction,” said Jonathan Board, West Virginia First Foundation executive director. “Take Back Day is more than a reminder; it’s a movement toward a healthier West Virginia.”

It’s important to remember these sites cannot accept syringes, other sharps or illegal drugs. But anyone who paid attention to the way the substance abuse epidemic started in Appalachia knows a drug does not have to be illegal to send someone into a deadly spiral of addiction.

Take a moment Saturday to check whether there are any prescription medications lurking in your homes that should be handed over for disposal.

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration’s website, here are numerous locations around the region participating, including the Kroger store in Hollywood Plaza and the Harrison and Carroll county sheriff’s departments. The most up-to-date list can be found at dea.gov/takebackday.

While Saturday is set aside to call national attention to safe disposal of medications, most law enforcement agencies have collection boxes at their locations where medications can be deposited anonymously.

With just a little effort, you can remove a potential danger from your homes — perhaps even remove yourself as a target if there is someone who is aware of the contents of your medicine cabinet — and, as Board put it, help us all take another small step forward in this fight.