Drug Enforcement Administration officials say it’s important for people to properly dispose of unused or expired prescription drugs before they are accidentally consumed, stolen or misused.

Dr., an addiction medicine specialist at the Mayo Clinic. “It’s best to leave these medications out of the house when you’re done with them by your provider, unless you have specific reasons to keep them at home,” says Holly Geyer, MD.

Doctors and DEA officials say there are five groups of prescription drugs that people should never leave unused in their homes.

Opioids: Data from the Centers for Disease Control found that oxycodone and other opioid drugs were linked to more than 81,000 overdose deaths in the United States last year.

Anti-anxiety medications: “These are drugs in the drug class like lorazepam or alprazolam; they can be toxic, especially when combined with other drugs that can be sedating,” says Geyer.

Sleeping pills: It should be thrown away or locked away when no longer needed.

Muscle relaxants: Use with other substances may increase the risk of overdose.

Cough medications: “We’re noticing something called ‘robotripping’ in the younger population if the medicine has dextromethorphan in it. So cough medicines can be toxic, even if you buy them without a prescription. Take them out if you don’t need them anymore,” he says.

DEA officials say the best way to get rid of these drugs is to find a drug box at a local police station.