The Pennsylvania State Police will accept unwanted, expired and unused prescription drugs on October 26, as part of National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

The State Police will collect unwanted prescription medications from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and may be dropped off at select State Police barracks. No personal information is required for drop-off.

The Drug Take-Back Program conducted in partnership with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposal, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of these medications.

This program strives to reduce the introduction of potentially harmful substances into the environment.  Flushing medications contribute to water pollution and poses serious health risks to water supplies and fish habitats.

Disposing of medications in trash cans causes groundwater contamination leaching out of landfills, harms the wildlife that ingest these drugs and enables others who dumpster dive to obtain the medications.

The DEA's sixth National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day last April resulted in more than 742,497 pounds (371 tons) of unwanted or expired medications at more than 5,800 sites. The DEA collected 50 percent more pills than they did at the previous Take-Back Day six months earlier.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in one month alone, nearly seven million Americans over the age of 12 reported abusing prescription medications.

Approximately 60 percent of people who abuse prescription painkillers indicate that they obtained the prescription drugs from friends or relatives for free, often taking the drugs without permission.

For more information, visit the DEA National Take Bay Collection Day webpage to  find DEA collection sites in your zip code or call 1-800-882-9539.

10/28/2013