As part of an effort to keep drugs off the streets of Tomball, officials are working to provide residents with resources to keep unnecessary prescription drugs out of their homes. The Tomball Police Department is setting up a drop-off site as part of National Drug Take Back Day on Sept. 26 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in the lobby of its building at 400 Fannin St., Tomball. Tomball Police Chief Billy Tidwell said the department has hosted the program for several years to provide a safe way for residents to dispose of leftover or expired medications. “A lot of prescription drug abuse results from medications leftover in the home that people can get to,” Tidwell said. “So we offer [residents] that opportunity to get it out of the house and bring it to the police department.” The department is hosting the event in partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration as part of a nationwide effort to prevent prescription drug abuse and improper disposal. Tidwell said the program is a safe alternative to throwing medications in the garbage or flushing them down the toilet. “If you throw [pills or bottles] in the trash, they’re still in the environment and they’re still accessible to people,” Tidwell said. “And if you flush them down the toilet, they go through the city’s treatment system, and that’s just not a good thing for any of us.” Residents outside of the Tomball area that wish to participate in the program are encouraged to visit www.dea.gov to find a nearby drop-off site.