Multiple local police departments are participating in the National Take Back Initiative Saturday, with drop boxes for residents to deposit unused or expired medications.

The take back day is scheduled for Saturday from 10 a..m. to 2 p.m., with sites at the Peterborough, Dublin, Jaffrey, Mason, Rindge and Wilton police departments.

Some departments have permanently drop boxes that are available to accept medications year-round, including Peterborough, Rindge and Wilton.

According to a 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, nearly 10 million Americans were misusing controlled prescription drugs, the majority of which were obtained from family and friends.

The nonmedical use of prescription drugs is second only to marijuana as the most-common form of drug abuse in America, according to the National Drug Enforcement Agency, and can lead to accidental poisoning or overdose. Unused medication thrown in the trash can be retrieved and abused or sold, and flushing it down the toilet can contaminate the water supply. Medications turned in to police stations as part of the take-back day will be incinerated.

The take-back program does not accept liquids, patches, needles or sharps.

Some departments may have permanent collection boxes for old or expired medications, and people who cannot attend the take-back day should check with their local police. The DEA recommends that people who cannot dispose of their medications with the police take the medications out of the bottles, mix them with used cat litter or coffee grounds, seal them in disposable containers and throw them away.

For information on drop locations, year-round collection sites and at-home disposal of prescription medication, visit dea.gov/takebackday.

 Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172, Ext. 244, or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on X @ Ash leySaariMLT.