GREEN BAY, Wis. — The statewide effort of Drug Take Back Day is set for Saturday April, 24.

This year there's a heightened importance, as recent trends show an increase in overdose deaths. The rise in overdose deaths have been linked directly to the challenges an ongoing pandemic presents. People find themselves in longer periods of isolation, struggling with mental illnesses and stress.

Drug Take Back Day aims to be a preventative measure to help get unwanted drugs out of your medicine cabinet.

Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul recently held a virtual press conference to make the announcement.

Kaul encouraged Wisconsinites to participate and help the cause.

"There’s a direct line that can be drawn from the unused and unwanted prescriptions in peoples medical cabinets to people struggling with addiction to heroin and other opioids," says Kaul.

Wisconsin led the nation last year as the state with most drugs taken back, averaging about 90,000 pounds. Local law enforcement departments will lead the event statewide, hosting dropoff boxes in their respective cities.

"We have staff clean that drug box clean out multiple times a month", says Commander Kevin Warych with the Green Bay Police Department. "We’re trying to prevent that person from being addicted to these opioids and having that circle that they just cant get out of."

Local pharmacists also play a critical part for drug education. Pharmacist Jude Jean-Pierre, owner of Rx Link in downtown Appleton, says he’s proud to be an asset to provide safe drug use education.

"We’re very happy to sit down and communicate with them and pass that message encourage them so we can reduce over doses in our community and in our state," says Jean-Pierre.

Visit https://doseofrealitywi.gov/drug-takeback/ to find a Drug Take Back location nearest to you.