For those who may have unused or expired medication they would like to get rid of, there will be an opportunity to do so this weekend in Perry. 

The Perry Police Department will be taking part in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Drug Take Back Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday outside the police department. Police Chief Eric Vaughn says it will give people a safe way to dispose of their medication.

“So, many times someone stops taking a medication because their health has improved or maybe someone has passed away and you’re left kind of cleaning out the cupboard so to speak. This gives a proper way to dispose of it so it doesn’t end up in our water system. Also, we want to make sure that those medications get disposed of so somebody doesn’t have the opportunity to take those medications without a proper prescription or abuse them.”

Vaughn says a deposit box will be out in front of the police station for people to dispose of unused or outdated medications and over the counter medications. Vaughn points out the items that won’t accepted.

“We will take any kind of medication except for anything in a needle form and unused needles. Also, inhalers such as asthma inhalers and that kind of thing just because they are compressed. They (the DEA) do incinerate the items so they don’t want those in their incinerators.”

Vaughn says it is important to offer a safe place for people to dispose of their medications properly.