The 20th National Prescription Drug Take Back day will be held Saturday, April 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, community partners and the Drug Enforcement Administration will provide the public with an opportunity to prevent medication abuse and theft by clearing out their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs. The event is to raise awareness and help community members dispose of unused or expired prescriptions at locations all across the county, free, anonymously and with no questions asked.

“Very often, unused prescription drugs find their way into the wrong hands that can result in tragedy. National Take Back Day provides hundreds of people the opportunity to clean out their medicine cabinets and dispose of prescriptions in a safe and anonymous manner” said Kelley Potter, HOPE Chautauqua DFC project director/coalition coordinator.

Levels of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are high as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines — flushing them down the toilet, drain or throwing them directly in the trash pose potential safety and health hazards to the environment.

Prescription medications may be brought to any of the following locations in Chautauqua County:

¯ Chautauqua Mall parking lot across from ASPIRE, 318 E. Fairmount Ave., Lakewood;

¯ Westfield Family Physicians parking lot, 138 E. Main St., Westfield; or

¯ Alstar Ambulance in Dunkirk, 738 Monroe St., Dunkirk.

Only pills and other solids, such as patches can be brought to the collection sites for disposal — liquids and needles (sharps) will not be accepted.

Due to COVID-19, anyone dropping off prescription medication to be disposed of must wear a mask, as well as follow the state COVID guidelines.

HOPE Chautauqua’s ongoing Take It To The Box campaign is aimed at bringing awareness of the permanent disposal drop boxes in the county. Permanent drop box location sites are available across Chautauqua County, inicluding:

¯ Jamestown Police Department, 201 E. Second St., Jamestown, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week;

¯ Westfield Police Department, 23 Elm St., Eason Hall Westfield, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week;

¯ Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, 15 E. Chautauqua St., Mayville, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week;

¯ Fredonia Police Department, 9 Church St., Fredonia, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week;

¯ Silver Creek Court Clerk’s Office Municipal Building, 172 Central Ave., Silver Creek, available from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday;

¯ Lakewood-Busti Police Department, 20 W. Summit St., Lakewood, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week;

¯ Ellicott Police Department, located in the Ellicott Administration Building, 215 S. Work St., Falconer, available from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday;

¯ Dunkirk Police Department, 342 Central Ave., Dunkirk, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week;

¯ Tops Pharmacy, 3955 Vineyard Drive, Dunkirk, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week;

¯ Tops Pharmacy, 2000 Washington, St., Jamestown, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.;

¯ Concord Pharmacy, 10220 Route 60, Fredonia, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; and

¯ CVS Pharmacy, 19 S. Main St., Brooklyn Square, Jamestown, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

All of the sites are free and anonymous.

For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or the April 24 National Prescription Drug Take Back Day event visit www.preventionworks.us or go to the DEA Diversion website at www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drugdisposal/takeback/index.html.