The 14th National Take Back Day drug collection event has been scheduled 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 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 11 sites.

The event is being coordinated by the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office, area police departments, Allentown Health Bureau, Pennsylvania State Police and the U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration.

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, and no questions will be asked.

District Attorney Jim Martin encourages citizen to participate in Take Back Day.

“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 homes,” Martin said.

Since the first Take Back Day in 2010, 11,137 pounds of medications have been collected in the county. In addition, a total of 15,865 pounds of medications have been collected from the permanent medication collection boxes installed in 12 police departments; Lehigh Valley Hospital, Salisbury Township; Lehigh Valley Hospital, 17th and Chew streets, Allentown; and Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg, Bethlehem. In all, 27,002 pounds of drugs have been collected.

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.

Drug Enforcement Agency personnel takes the drugs to an incinerator where they are burned.

Medications will be collected at the following locations:

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

• Redners Market, Airport Road, Allentown. Allentown police and 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.

• 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. The main entrance to the 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, St. Luke’s University Health Network’s Bethlehem campus, 801 Ostrum St., Fountain Hill, will be offering medication collection 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 28 for its employees, as well as for families of patients who are staying at the hospital. The drop-off site will be in front of the doctors pavilion. There will be signage to assist with locating the site.

If residents can’t dispose of their medications during the October 2017 Take Back Day, they can deposit unused drugs in the permanent collection boxes.

The locations of year-round collection boxes include:

• Allentown Police Department, 1005 W. Hamilton St. substation, Allentown. Open 24 hours, seven days a week. A box also is located at Lehigh Valley Hospital, 17th Street, and Walgreens Pharmacy, 1702 Tilghman St.

• Bethlehem Police Department, 10 E. Church St., Bethlehem. 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, excluding holidays. Visitors entering the city hall location should advise the front desk that 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. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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