Efforts to protect your family and friends from abuse of prescription drugs begins at home. 

Hundreds of thousands of people are getting the message as they dropped off unused or expired prescription drugs at police stations or pharmacies across the country.

Boardman police were one of several law enforcement agencies who are taking part in the DEA drug take back day. The message in the township is be responsible, be safe, participate.

In just a few hours police collected about a dozen boxes of unused or expired prescription drugs. 

"Programs like this across the country will collect hundreds of thousands of pounds of narcotics that normally would be improperly disposed of," Sergeant Glenn Patton said.

Patton explained safe disposal can help keep the drugs from accidentally poisoning children or pets, and deters misuse by teens or adults.

"It helps prevent children, teenagers from going into the cabinets and being exposed to narcotics and things that can harm them," Patton emphasized.

Meijer grocery store and pharmacy not only takes part in the DEA Prescription take back day, but offers that service year around for your convenience.

Store Director Brian Dunigan pointed to the locked drop box.

"We have right here, it's available the hours of the pharmacy is open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily, so we do that all year around so we give them an opportunity to dispose of them properly so once again they don't end up in the wrong hands," Meijer Store Director, Brian Dunigan said. 

Dunigan tells 21 News, since Meijer started doing this all stores together have disposed of 165 tons of unused or expired prescription and over the counter drugs. 

The EPA says the take back programs helps protect our waterways, environment, and drinking water, since flushing unwanted or expired prescriptions in a septic system can leach then seep into the ground water. In addition, waste and water treatment plants are not equipped to remove medicines from the water.

The DEA is encouraging communities and people to make every day take back day. The agency has 17,000 registered pharmacies authorized to collect and help Americans dispose of unused prescription drugs any day of the year. 

To find a site near you, visit DEA.gov