The ninth National Take Back Day drug collection event has been scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 27.

Lehigh County residents can take expired and unused prescription and over-the-counter medications to police departments and other locations at 17 sites in Lehigh County. They 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 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.

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.

District Attorney James B. Martin reminded residents 12 police departments in Lehigh County have permanent medication collection boxes to 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 police departments with year-round collection boxes include Emmaus, 400 Jubilee St., Salisbury Township, 3000 S. Pike Ave. and Coopersburg Police Department, 5 N. Main St., Coopersburg.

To check the hours and days of operation at those sites, call the police departments or 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."

Medications will be collected at the following locations Sept. 27:

· Alburtis Police Department, 260 Franklin St., Alburtis

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

· Emmaus Police Department, 400 Jubilee St.;

· Macungie Police Department, 21 Locust St., Macungie;

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

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

· Walgreen's Pharmacy, 1702 W. Tilghman St., Allentown. Allentown police and the Allentown Health Bureau will collect medications;

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

· Fountain Hill Police Department, 941 Long St., Fountain Hill.