Walmart is participating in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

AMARILLO, Texas (KVII) — More than eight and a half million people ages 12 and older in the United States have reported misusing prescription medications.

Walmart is hosting in-person medication disposal events at select stores nationwide this Saturday.

This includes the store on West Amarillo Boulevard.

Saturday is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.

The aim is to encourage people to safely remove unneeded medicines from their homes rather than simply throwing them in the trash or flushing them down the toilet.

Pharmacist Cerise Pshigoda says this is a way for people to avoid confusing old medications with new ones.

“So you have medicine in your cupboard and you're sick and desperate, and maybe you grab one and it's not even what it's used for, in addition to the fact that it's expired, which is part of its effectiveness lost or it literally broke with its chemicals,” Pshigoda said.

The event will be held Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Walmart on West Amarillo Boulevard.

For those who can't make it, you can still drop off prescriptions during normal pharmacy hours at Walmart locations in Coulter, SW 45th and Osage.