On Saturday, April 22, from 10 am until 2 pm, Newtown Police Department and other law enforcement agencies nationwide will be partnering with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for the 24th Drug Take Back Day.

The public can visit the department’s headquarters, at 191 South Main Street, and drop off expired, unwanted, and unused prescription medications.

The DEA and Newtown Police Department officers will accept tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms of prescription drugs.

Liquids, including intravenous solutions; syringes and other sharps; and illegal drugs will not be accepted.

The service is free and anonymous. No questions will be asked.

Drug Take Back Days are conducted twice a year, in April and October.

In October 2022 — the most recent Drug Take Back event — there was participation from 4,340 law enforcement agencies, including 91 in Connecticut. More than 647,000 pounds (320-plus tons) of prescription medications were collected among 4,902 collection sites.

Cumulatively, 16,636,729 pounds (8,318 tons) of expired, unwanted, and unused prescription medications have been collected since the launch of this program.

Newtown Police Department currently does not have a drug drop box in its lobby.

Since July 2018, pharmacies in Connecticut have been authorized to dispose of prescription medications. No Newtown pharmacies currently have Drug Drop Boxes, according to Newtown PD, but local pharmacies will assist customers with the safe disposal of medications.

The DEA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have also posted instructions for safe disposal for medications in the trash at home. Learn more at DEAtakeback.com.