The 15th National Take Back Day drug collection event has been scheduled for 10 a.m.-2 p.m. April 28. During that time, Lehigh County residents can take expired and unused prescription and over-the-counter medications to police departments and other locations at 14 sites in Lehigh County.

County residents can dispose of capsules, pills and liquids, including pet medications.

Syringes or sharps will not be accepted. Residents who dispose of medications will remain anonymous, 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.

District Attorney Jim Martin encourages citizens to participate in Take Back Day, saying, “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; anti-depressants, such as Lorazepam (Ativan) and Alprazolam (Xanax); and stimulant prescription drugs, such as Ritalin and Aderall. Too often, these drugs are kept in homes where they can be abused or stolen. I encourage Lehigh County residents to take this opportunity to remove these potential hazards from their households.”

Since the first Take Back Day in 2010, 11,827 pounds of medications have been collected in the county. In addition, a total of 18,520 pounds of medications have been collected from the permanent medication collection boxes that have been installed in 12 police departments; Lehigh Valley Hospital, Salisbury Township; Lehigh Valley Hospital, 17th and Chew streets in Allentown; and Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg, in Bethlehem. In all, over 15 tons of drugs have been collected in Lehigh County thanks to these initiatives.

Collection sites are listed below, but computer users also can visit deadiversion.usdoj.gov and click on “Got Drugs” on the left to find convenient locations. Users can click on “search for a collection site near you” and then enter their ZIP code.

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

Medications will be collected at the following locations April 28:

• Giant Food Store, 3015 W. Emmaus Ave., Allentown. Allentown police and the Allentown Health Bureau will collect medications.

• Redners Market, Airport Road, Allentown. Allentown police and the Allentown Health Bureau will collect medications.

• Westgate Mall, main entrance, 2285 Schoenersville Road, Bethlehem. Bethlehem police will collect medications.

• Catasauqua Police Department, 90 Bridge St.

• Emmaus Police Department, 400 Jubilee St.

• Fountain Hill Police Department, 941 Long St.

• Macungie Police Department, 21 Locust St.

• Pennsylvania State Police, Troop M, 2930 Airport Road, Bethlehem.

• South Mall, central court, 3300 Lehigh St., Salisbury Township. Salisbury Township police will collect medications.

• South Whitehall Township Police Department, 4444 Walbert Ave. Main entrance to the police department is at the back of the municipal building on the lower level.

• Upper Macungie Township Police Department, 37 Grim Road.

• Upper Saucon Township Police Department, 5500 Camp Meeting Road.

In addition to these locations, St. Luke’s University Health Network will be offering collection sites at both their Fountain Hill campus, 801 Ostrum St., and Allentown campus, 1736 Hamilton St. Citizens can follow signage to find where to drop off their unwanted medications at either campus. All sites are open to the public.

If residents can’t dispose of their medications during the April 2018 Take Back Day, they can deposit unused drugs in the permanent collection boxes. The locations of year-round collection boxes are:

Allentown Police Department substation, 1005 W. Hamilton St. - open 24 hours, seven days a week. A box also is located at Lehigh Valley Hospital, 17th Street.

Bethlehem Police Department, 10 E. Church St. - 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Visitors entering the city hall location should advise the front desk they are there to go to the police department to discard unwanted medications. A box also is located at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg.

Catasauqua Police Department, 90 Bridge St. - open 24 hours, seven days a week

Coopersburg Police Department, 5 N. Main St. - 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday

Coplay Police Department, 98 S. Fourth St. - 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays

Emmaus Police Department, 400 Jubilee St. - 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays

Salisbury Township Police Department, 3000 S. Pike Ave. - 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. A box is also at Lehigh Valley Hospital, outside the pharmacy, Salisbury Township.

Slatington Police Department, 125 S. Walnut St. - 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday

South Whitehall Township Police Department, 4444 Walbert Ave. - 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays

Upper Macungie Township Police Department, 37 Grim Road - 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays

Upper Saucon Township Police Department, 5500 Camp Meeting Road, Center Valley - 8 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m. Monday through Friday

Whitehall Township Police Department, 3731 Lehigh St. - 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays