Catasauqua and Whitehall police departments are among 17 sites for area residents to dispose of unused prescription and over-the counter medications during National Take Back Day Sept. 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Pennsylvania State Police, Troop M, also will be collecting medications at the Bethlehem barracks, 2930 Airport Road, Hanover Township, Lehigh County.

Lehigh County residents can dispose of capsules and pills, including pet medications and liquids. Syringes or sharps will not be accepted.

Residents who dispose of medications will remain anonymous, as has been the case in the last eight collections, and no questions will be asked.

The event is being 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.

During the last Take Back Day in April 2014, police collected 766 pounds of medications in Lehigh County, bringing the total for all collections since 2010 to more than 7,600 pounds for Lehigh County.

"From a public safety and health standpoint, it is important that residents not keep accumulations of medications in their homes," Lehigh County District Attorney James B. Martin said. "Prescription drugs that can be abused by teens and adults should be routinely discarded."

Martin said that some of the most commonly abused prescription drugs in the country are painkillers that contain hydrocodone, such as Vicodin and Percocet; oxycodone, such as OxyContin; antidepressants, such as Lorazepam (Ativan) and Alprazolam (Xanax); and stimulant prescription drugs, such as Ritalin and Aderall.

Martin said studies have shown that nearly one-third of people age 12 and older who used drugs for the first time began by using a prescription drug non-medically. In addition, one in four teens has misused or abused a prescription drug at least once in his or her lifetime, he added.

DEA personnel take the drugs to an incinerator where they are burned.

Martin also reminded residents that 12 police departments in Lehigh County, including Catasauqua and Coplay, have permanent medication collection boxes that can be used by residents during daytime hours, generally Monday through Friday, if they are unable to take their medications to sites on Sept. 27.

Since the boxes, which are secure and similar to mail boxes, were installed earlier this year, residents have disposed of more than 1,230 pounds of medications in the boxes.

The Catasauqua collection box is located at the police department, 118 Bridge St. Coplay's collection box is located in the municipal building, which also houses the police department, at 98 S. Fourth St.

To check the hours and days of operation at those and other sites, 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."