NASHVILLE (AP) — The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and law enforcement agencies across the state will be collecting unused prescription medications on Saturday.

The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is sponsored by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration.

TBI will offer anonymous disposal of the drugs at its Nashville headquarters from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Other collection sites across the state can be found on the web at www.DEAdiversion.usdoj.gov .

TBI Director Mark Gwyn said in a news release that Tennessee is facing an epidemic of prescription drug abuse. He said the take-back is important because every prescription drug that law enforcement collects is one less medication that could be diverted from its intended use.

According to the TBI, the national drug take-back has collected 2.8 million pounds of prescription medication since its inception.