QUINCY, ILL. -- Drug deals could be going down in your bathroom.

It sounds ridiculous but more Americans than ever are abusing the prescription pills they pick up in pharmacies or find on the internet.

Law enforcement agencies say that's a prescription for danger.

Clark County Chief Deputy Robert Becker said, "Probably in the last five to tens years, it's gotten worse and grown out of hand. It's really going unchecked."

Becker says increased illegal prescription drug use is a trend across the country, including right here in the Tri-States. In fact, it exceeds the use of all illegal narcotics combined.

The problem can start with a person selling their legal prescription for cash. Others visit multiple doctors for multiple prescriptions, others forge them while others steal from a family member. Captain Becker says it's not uncommon to have three or four reports of prescription drug thefts from area medicine cabinets every week. That's quite a few for his small county where 100 cases were investigated last year.

That easy access is a big reason the problem is growing. And in some cases it's harder to investigate than regular drugs such as meth.

Becker said, "You find marijuana and cocaine and you know that it's illegal. You find a pill bottle in someone's purse and some pills in the bottom of a purse or in a bag, you don't know whether they have a prescription for that."

But using someone else's prescriptions isn't only illegal, it's dangerous.

Counselor Jeanna Parkhill with Recovery Resources in Quincy said, "You're really taking your life in your hands when you put those in your system."

Parkhill says when you're prescribed a drug, a doctor checks for dangerous interactions with things you have ingested. If you take something not meant for you, it will not only slow your responses and thought process.  But there's also a chance for...

Parkhill said, "Losing brain cells, long term brain damage and even death."

This Saturday, April 30 many law enforcement agencies like the Clark County Sheriff's Department are holding their own Prescription Drug Take-Backs days.

That gives you a chance to safely dispose unused or expired medications for free and anonymously.

The Federal Drug Enforcement Administration is putting on these events all across the country for the National Drug Take-Back Day this Saturday, April 30.

Local authorities participating in the program include:

- Clark County Sheriff's Department at the department from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

- Lee County Sheriff's Department at the Department

- Quincy Police Department

- Knox County Coalition against Meth and the Edina Police Department

- Hannibal Clinic at the Ambulatory Care Center located at 100 Medical Drive from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

This allows drugs to be safely incenerated.  Remember you shouldn't flush drugs because then they end up in our drinking water.