Tri-City police collect old medications Sept. 26

Citizens can drop off any expired or unwanted prescription drugs at Tri-City police stations Sept. 26 to be properly destroyed.

Police stations in Kennewick, Richland and Pasco will be collecting prescription and over the counter medications from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Needles will not be accepted.

The collections are part of the 10th annual national Drug Prescription Take-Back. The goal is to safely dispose of medications so they aren’t abused or stolen.

“Prescription drug abuse is a huge problem and this is a great opportunity for folks around the country to help reduce the threat,” Chuck Rosenberg, of the Drug Enforcement Administration, said in a news release.

About 234 pounds of medications have been collected during the last nine events in Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Alaska — 108 pounds were from Washington, more than any of the other states.

The Kennewick police station is at 211 W. Sixth Ave., the Richland police station is at 871 George Washington Way, and the Pasco police station is at 525 N. Third Ave.

This story was originally published September 25, 2015 at 6:16 PM with the headline "Tri-City police collect old medications Sept. 26."