The Greenville Police Department, in partnership with the Drug Enforcement Agency, will hold prescription drug take-back events Sept. 26 and Oct. 3 as part of National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day.

The events aim to provide a safe, convenient and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications.

“This is a chance for people to come and drop off pills with no questions asked,” said Capt. Justin Lovvorn. “An officer will have a box set up to collect the drugs, but he’s not there to ask questions or to even look at what’s being put in the box. We just want to provide a place for people to safely dispose of drugs that have expired or they simply don’t need or want.”

This year marks the 10^th year the DEA has held National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day.

In the previous nine take-back events nationwide, 2,411 tons of drugs were collected.

“Prescription drug abuse is a huge problem and this is a great opportunity for folks around the country to help reduce the threat,” said DEA Acting Administrator Chuck Rosenberg. “Please clean out your medicine cabinet and make your home safe from drug theft and abuse.”

Lovvorn said removing expired, unwanted or unneeded drugs from the house can also prevent them from falling into the wrong hands and being misused.

“It’s best to get them off your hands,” he said. “Then you don’t have to worry about someone stealing them or them ending up in a child’s hands.”

The GPD will have a narcotics officer on hand at both take-back events to answer questions.

The events will be held at CVS on Sept. 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and at The Medicine Shoppe from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Oct. 3.

All of the drugs collected during the events will be turned over to the DEA.