Pictured is the permanent drop box at the Jamestown Police Department. National Prescription Drug Take Back Day will be held Saturday, Oct. 24. Submitted photo

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day will be held Saturday, Oct. 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, community partners and the federal 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.

Medicines that deteriorate over time in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse.

“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.

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 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 Physiciansparking 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 will not be accepted. Due to COVID-19 anyone dropping of prescription medication to be disposed of must wear a mask as well as follow the guidelines for safe distancing.

To complement this event, HOPE Chautauqua’s ongoing Take It To THE BOX campaign is aimed at bringing awareness of the permanent disposal drop boxes in the county and three very important actions safe use, safe storage and safe disposal of medications.

Permanent drop box location sites are available across Chautauqua County at the following sites:

¯ 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; 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, Ellicott Administration Building, 215 S. Work St., Falconer, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday;

¯ City of 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;

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