POTSDAM -- Kinney Drugs in Potsdam and Gouverneur will work with local law enforcement agencies and the Drug Enforcement Administration, to hold a  drug take-back Saturday.

A release from Kinney Drugs says it will “give the public a chance to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous prescription drugs during National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day.”

This event is part of a nationwide effort to responsibly dispose of controlled substances.

On Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 42 Kinney Drugs locations throughout New York and Vermont will host a Drug Take-Back Day event.

The service is free and anonymous, with no questions asked. For a full list of participating locations, visit www.kinneydrugs.com/medcollection.

St. Lawrence County’s Environmental Management Council is also supporting the event.

Pills and patches that have expired or are unused or unwanted can be dropped off during the event to ensure proper and safe disposal. The DEA is not able to accept liquids, needles or sharps.

During the last Take-Back Day in October 2013, Americans turned in 324 tons (over 647,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at more than 4,114 sites operated by the DEA and its thousands of state and local law enforcement partners. When those results are combined with what was collected in all its previous Take-Back events, the DEA and its partners have taken in over 3.4 million pounds of pills—more than 1,700 tons.

Items being excepted include prescription medications, inhalers, over-the-counter medications, creams, ointments, medication vials, pet medications and sprays. Do not bring illegal drugs, controlled prescription drugs such as Oxycontin, Percocet and Hydrocodone, biohazards, needles or sharps, personal care products or household hazardous waste.

A “Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day,” will also be held from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. on May 31 at the Human Services Center, 80 SH 310 in Canton.

This will be another opportunity to drop off unused pharmaceuticals.

At that event, other hazardous materials like old oil paint, blacktopping, insecticides, etc., and old electronics will also be accepted.