Lawrence law enforcement officials collecting unused prescription drugs on national Drug Take-Back Day

Anyone with unused prescription drugs is invited to safely dispose of them with police Saturday.

Lawrence police and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office will set up two sites Saturday in Lawrence, collecting expired, unused, or unwanted prescription and over-the-counter drugs, according to a news release from the sheriff’s office. The collection sites will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lawrence Police Department’s offices at 4820 Bob Billings Parkway and in the short-term parking lot next to Douglas County Courthouse, 1100 Massachusetts St. The collection is part of a nationwide “Drug Take-Back Day” effort backed by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration.

About 1.5 billion doses of prescription drugs go unused each year, federal authorities say, leading to accidents and dangerous misuse. Local law enforcement is asking residents to bring any pills, tablets, capsules or liquid medications such as cough syrup, all of which should remain securely sealed in the original container.

The collection sites cannot accept inhalers, intravenous solutions, drugs designed for injection, needles or illegal drugs. Those disposing of a medication in its original container are advised to remove any identifying information from the prescription label. All of the drugs collected will be placed in a secure box for destruction by the DEA.

In the five previous Take-Back events, local police across the country and the DEA have collected and destroyed more than 2 million pounds of prescription drugs.