The 18th National Take Back Day drug collection event has been scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 26. During that time, Lehigh County residents can take expired and unused prescription and over-the-counter medications to police departments and other locations at 13 sites in Lehigh County.

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.

After the medications are collected, Drug Enforcement Agency personnel take the drugs to an incinerator where they are burned.

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

District Attorney Jim Martin asked county residents to take part in National Take Back Day.

“All too often, potentially dangerous drugs are found in homes. These include some of the most commonly abused prescription drugs in the country: painkillers that contain hydrocodone, such as Vicodin and Percocet; and oxycodone, such as OxyContin. In addition to painkillers, anti-depressants, such as Lorazepam (Ativan) and Alprazolam (Xanax), and stimulant prescription drugs, such as Ritalin and Aderall, are kept in homes where they can be abused or stolen,” Martin said. “I hope Lehigh County citizens take this opportunity to rid their residences of these medications,” he added.

Since the first Take Back Day in 2010, 13,696.5 pounds of medications have been collected in the county. In addition, a total of 28,179 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, Allentown; and Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg, Bethlehem. In all, over 22 tons of drugs have been collected in Lehigh County thanks to these initiatives.

Medications will be collected at the following locations Oct. 26:

• Whitehall Township Police Department, 3731 Lehigh St.

• Catasauqua Police Department, 90 Bridge St.

• CVS Pharmacy, 1601 W. Liberty St., Allentown

• Giant Food Store, 3015 W. Emaus Ave., Allentown

• Wegmans, 3900 Tilghman St., Allentown

• Westgate Mall (main entrance), 2285 Schoenersville Road, Bethlehem

• Emmaus Police Department, Jubilee St., Emmaus

• Fountain Hill Police Department, 941 Long St.

• Macungie Police Department, 21 Locust St.

• South Mall (central court), 3300 Lehigh St., Salisbury Township

• Salisbury High School, 500 E. Montgomery St., Salisbury Township

• South Whitehall Township Police Department (back of the municipal building, lower level), 4444 Walbert Ave.

• Upper Saucon Township Police Department, 5500 Camp Meeting Road

• St. Luke’s University Health Network, Fountain Hill campus, 801 Ostrum St., and Allentown campus, 1736 Hamilton St.

If residents can’t dispose of their medications Oct. 26, they can deposit unused drugs in the permanent collection boxes.

The locations of year-round collection boxes are:

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

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

• Catasauqua Police Department, 90 Bridge St. - always open

• Allentown Police Department (substation), 1005 W. Hamilton St. - always open. A box also is located at Lehigh Valley Hospital, 17th Street, Allentown.

• Bethlehem Police Department, 10 E. Church St. - 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-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.

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

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

• Salisbury Township Police Department, 3000 S. Pike Ave. - 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-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-Friday

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

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

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