Salem Police Drug Take-Back Event Set For Saturday

SALEM, MA — Salem police are looking to collect expired and unwanted medications and narcotics so they don't fall into the wrong hands or contaminate groundwater.

The department will host a medication disposal day as part of National Drug Take Back Day on Saturday at the new station on Margin Street.

Items accepted include old, unwanted and expired pills and over-the-counter medications, medication samples, vitamins, veterinary medications and narcotics.

Prescription bottles are not accepted. Medications should be in a sealed plastic bag.

Not accepted on Saturday are sharps, thermometers, IV bags, bloody or infectious waste, inhalers, hydrogen peroxide or personal care projects.

Unused medications can fall into the wrong hands around the house and within the city. It is not recommended that those items be flushed down the toilet as that can lead them seeping into soil and groundwater supplies.

The secure depository is located in the lobby of the police station with instructions and sealable plastic bags.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)