Lehigh County Police Departments, Pennsylvania State Police and the Allentown Health Bureau collected 766 pounds of unused and expired medications during the eighth National Take Back Day event April 26.

The Lehigh County total for all collections since the first in 2010 is more than 7,600 pounds of medications.

County residents were able to dispose of capsules, pills, including pet medications and liquids.

The event was coordinated by the Lehigh County District Attorney's Office, area police departments, the Allentown Health Bureau, Pennsylvania State Police and the U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration.

Local collections on Take Back Day included 12 pounds at the Catasauqua Police Department and 13 pounds at the Whitehall Township Police Department.

The medications were taken to an incinerator where they were burned.

"It is clear that the Take Back Days and the permanent medication collection boxes that have been installed in 12 Lehigh County police departments have increased awareness of the serious problem of prescription drug abuse and addiction and the need to dispose of over-the-counter and prescription medications properly," said Lehigh County District Attorney James B. Martin.

The police departments with year-round MedReturn collection boxes, which are secure and are similar to mail boxes are: Catasauqua, 118 Bridge St.; Whitehall Township, 3731 Lehigh St.; and Coplay Police Department, (lobby of Coplay Borough Building), 98 S. Fourth St., Coplay.

To check the hours and days of operation at those sites, call the police departments or go to www.lehighcounty.org and the District Attorney's Office pages. Click on the link on the left called, "Permanent Medication Collection Box List of Sites."