Officials with the Drug Enforcement Administration say it's important people properly dispose of any unused or expired prescription medications before they are consumed by accident, stolen or abused.

"It is best to get these drugs out of the house unless you have specific reasons by your provider to keep them in the house when you're done with them," says Dr. Holly Geyer, an addiction medicine specialist with the Mayo Clinic.

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

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

Anti-anxiety medications: "These are ones like lorazepam or alprazolam as drug class, they can be toxic, especially when combined with other drugs that can be sedating," says Geyer.

Sleeping medications: Should be discarded or locked away when they are no longer needed.

Muscle relaxers: If used with other substances can increase one's risk for an overdose.

Cough medications: "We recognize something called 'robotripping' in the teenage population if there's dextromethorphan in the drug. So, cough medicines can be toxic even if you purchase them over the counter. Get them out if you no longer need them," she says.

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

People are also encouraged to participate in drug take back collection days.