Collection boxes where the public can dispose of unwanted, unused and expired prescription and over-the-counter medications have netted more than 1,800 pounds of drugs in the first year.

The MedReturn boxes, which are similar to mail boxes, were installed in 12 police departments in Lehigh County in late 2013 and early 2014. The departments had applied for them through a grant program made possible by a partnership between the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association (PDAA), the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs and the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD).

The boxes were provided for free to police departments that submitted successful grant applications.

Detectives with the Lehigh County Drug Task Force pick up the discarded medications quarterly. As of Dec. 31, 2014, 1,871 pounds of medications had been collected.

In October 2014, another MedReturn box was installed in Lehigh Valley Hospital, Salisbury Township.

The collected medications are incinerated in cooperation with the Berks County District Attorney's Office through the Berks County Solid Waste Management contract with an incinerator in York County, which is an authorized facility designated to perform the destruction of controlled substances.

"It is clear that the permanent collection boxes have increased awareness of the serious problem of prescription drug abuse and addiction and the need to properly dispose of over-the-counter and prescription medications," said Lehigh County District Attorney James B. Martin. "I hope that Lehigh County residents continue to use the boxes so that medications aren't accumulated in their homes where they pose safety and health risks."

Martin noted that residents are sometimes disposing of items that are prohibited from the boxes, such as syringes, needles, Sharps or other sharp objects; intravenous solutions; lotions or liquids; aerosol cans; inhalers; hydrogen peroxide and thermometers.

The only items that can be disposed of in the boxes are prescription and over-the-counter solid medications such as tablets and capsules, vitamins, samples, prescription patches, prescription ointments, nasal sprays and pet medications.

Locally, boxes have been installed in the following locations:

· Catasauqua Police Department, 118 Bridge St. Hours are 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Hours will be expanded after a new station is built and opens in 2015;

· Coplay Police Department, inside borough hall, 98 S. Fourth St., Coplay. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, except holidays.

· Whitehall Township Police Department, 3731 Lehigh St. Hours are 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday through Friday except holidays by appointment with Officer Paul Davis at 610-437-3042 ext. 223.

A statewide location finder is available at www.ddap.pa.gov.