Since 2010, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has provided citizens with a way to safely dispose of unwanted prescription medications.

On Saturday, Oct. 26, Warren County — Youngsville Borough Police, City of Warren Police, and the Warren County Sheriff’s Office — participated in National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day again.

Agents of the DEA came to Warren County to pick up 456 pounds of medications that had been dropped off by county residents.

“The DEA collected the 18 boxes of medication from our county and will destroy it all,” Youngsville Borough Police Chief Todd Mineweaser said.

Expired, unused, and unwanted prescription medications that are left in medicine cabinets can be taken accidentally by someone in the house or taken and abused by someone else.

Many chemicals should not be flushed down the toilet.

So, DEA created the Take Back program.

“From our very first one of 21 pounds in 2010 to nearly 500 pounds in 2019, this is a successful program the DEA started,” Mineweaser said. “Our local residents really seem to appreciate the police departments collecting it all and not having to worry about burglars stealing it or flushing it into our water system.”

The events are now held twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall.