CLEVELAND — University Hospitals of Cleveland is participating in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, Oct. 23.

As part of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s nationwide effort, multiple University Hospitals locations in Northeast Ohio will collect the unused prescription and over-the-counter medications. 

Substance misuse and unintentional overdose deaths continue to be serious problems in the United States.

The Ohio Hospital Association reports that there were more than 3,500 opioid-related overdose hospital encounters during the first few months of 2021.

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day gives the public an easy way to rid their homes of potentially dangerous, expired, and unwanted prescription and over-the-counter drugs. 

Dr. Ryan Marino, medical toxicologist and addiction expert at University Hospitals, shared insight about the importance of the event on Spectrum News 1.