A Plano resident drops off unused prescription medications for National Drug Take Back Day. The Plano Police Department will be collecting unused or expired medications at various locations this Saturday.[/caption]

The Plano Police Department will hold its annual National Drug Take Back initiative from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sept. 26. 

Last year, Plano Police collected and properly disposed of 1,484 pounds of expired or unused prescription drugs and hope to surpass that amount this year.

Drop-off locations will be at Plano Senior High School, Plano East Senior High School, Plano West Senior High School and Clark High School.

The Plano Police Department has collected more than 8,000 pounds of medication since it began holding this DEA-sponsored event since September 2010, spokesperson David Tilley said. Languishing medicines are highly susceptible to misuse and prescription drug abuse is increasing at an alarming rate, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs, he said. The department will send its collection to the DEA-sponsor, where the majority of it will be incinerated.

"We've had a lot of good, positive responses on [this program]. We'll take everything you've got—vitamins whatever—with the exception of needles, syringes and anything combustible like inhalers," Tilley said.

Residents can dispose of items like inhalers, EpiPens and other noncollectable items by placing them into sealed container wrapped securely with tape and labeling it before putting it in the trash, Tilley said.