The seventh National Take Back Day drug collection event will take place 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 26 when Lehigh County residents can take expired and unused prescription and over-the-counter medications to police departments and other locations at 17 sites in the county.

Residents can dispose of capsules, 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 six 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, a record amount of almost 1,558 pounds of medications were collected at 17 sites in Lehigh County. A total of 4,826 pounds of drugs were collected in the county during the last six Take Back Day events.

Collection sites are listed below, but computer users also can visit www.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.

"Residents are grateful for the opportunity to dispose of medications properly," Lehigh County District Attorney James B. Martin said. "Police have reported that as soon as one Take Back Day is over, they receive calls and inquiries from the public about when the next one will be.

"I am pleased that the public has responded so well to these events and that there is greater awareness of the dangers of having these drugs accumulating in homes or being improperly disposed of in landfills and sewage systems."

Martin said a national study found there has been a substantial increase in substance abuse treatment for people addicted to prescription pain relievers.

"More people have access to these medicines," Martin said. "Keeping these medications and others when they are no longer being used or have expired creates potential drug stashes in households and can lead to unintentional drug overdose deaths."

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

Medications will be collected at the following locations:

ŸEmmaus Police Department, 400 Jubilee St., Emmaus;

ŸLower Milford Township Police Department, 7607 Chestnut Hill Church Road, Coopersburg;

ŸAlburtis Police Department, 260 Franklin St., Alburtis;

ŸMacungie Police Department, 21 Locust St., Macungie;

ŸSouth Mall (Central Court), 3300 Lehigh St., Salisbury Township. Salisbury Township police will collect medications;

ŸGiant supermarket, 3015 W. Emmaus Ave., Allentown. Allentown police and the Allentown Health Bureau will collect medications;

ŸGiant supermarket (at the store pharmacy), 216 E. Fairmount St. and Route 309, Coopersburg. Coopersburg police will collect medications.