Residents in Morgan and Scott counties can turn in expired, unused or unwanted prescription drugs at two locations as part of national Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Oct. 24.

Sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the day provides an opportunity for people to rid their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs.

Local residents can dispose of their prescription drugs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at the following sites: Jacksonville Police Department, 200 W. Douglas Ave., and Scott County Health Department, 335 W. Cherry St., Winchester.

The service is free and anonymous; no questions will be asked. Medications may be left in their packaging. The sites cannot accept liquids or needles, only pills or patches.

Staff with the Jacksonville Police Department and with Memorial Behavioral Health-Jacksonville will be positioned inside the police department, but will walk out to meet vehicles in the parking lot to allow participants to hand over prescription medicine without leaving their vehicles. People who arrive after the designated collection hours can discard their unused medications in a 24/7 drop box in the Jacksonville Police Department lobby.

Drop boxes are also available during business hours at Scott County Health Department; Walgreens, 1802 W. Morton Ave., Jacksonville; and CVS, 936 Main St., Jacksonville.

Memorial Behavioral Health-Jacksonville will distribute informational materials on medication safety and behavioral health at the Jacksonville Police Department.

The usual methods by which many people dispose of drugs – flushing them down toilets or throwing them in the trash – pose safety and health hazards and are not good for the environment.