YORK COUNTY — Those who have any expired, unused or unwanted prescriptions in their medicine cabinet can safely dispose of them the 17th National Drug Take Back Day across York County on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has partnered with public safety departments and community agencies throughout the country to bring the free event. At designated locations, drugs can be brought in anonymously, with no questions asked.

Drugs that are brought in must have personal information removed from containers.

At the last National Drug Take Back Day in October, about 914,200 pounds, or about 457.12 tons, of drugs were collected nationwide, according to statistics from the DEA. Nearly 80,300 pounds were collected in New England, with about 27,200 pounds of those collected in Maine.

“DEA has touched a nerve in America with its recent Take Back events, as evidenced by the millions of pounds of pills collected during our previous 16 events,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle in a written statement. “These events are only made possible through the dedicated work and commitment of our local, state and federal partners, and DEA thanks each and every one of them for their continuous efforts on behalf of the American people.”

Over the past 16 takeback day events, nearly 10.9 million pounds or more than 5,400 tons, of drugs have been collected nationwide. More than 353,000 pounds of drugs were collected in Maine alone.

The national event began in 2010 and according to the U.S. Attorney’s office in Maine, it addresses public safety and public health concerns as medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse.

According to the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 6 million Americans that year misused controlled prescription drugs. According to the study, a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.

Below is a list of drug disposal locations in Northern York County open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For a more complete list, go to https://takebackday.dea.gov.

• BIDDEFORD — Biddeford Public Works, 371 Hill St.

• BUXTON — Buxton Police Department, 185 Portland Road

• BUXTON — Rite Aid Pharmacy, 226 Parker Farm Road

• KENNEBUNK — Kennebunk Police Department, 4 Summer St.

• KENNEBUNK — Hannaford, 65 Portland Road

• KENNEBUNKPORT — Kennebunkport Police Department, 101 Main St.

• LYMAN — Goodwins Mills Fire Station, 481 Goodwins Mills Road

• OLD ORCHARD BEACH — Old Orchard Beach Police Department, 16 E. Emerson Cummings Boulevard

• SACO — Saco Police Department, 20 Storer St.

• SACO — Saco Community Center, 75 Franklin St.

• SANFORD — Sanford Police Department, 935 Main St.

• WATERBORO — Hannaford, 20 Sokokis Trail

• WELLS — York Hospital, 114 Sanford Road

Those who can’t make it to any of the participating locations on Saturday but have drugs they wish to dispose can contact their local police department to find a DEA authorized collector.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be reached at 780-9015 or by email at egotthelf@journaltribune.com.