CANTON -- The Canton Police Department is starting its own ongoing drug take-back program.

This program will allow people to bring their unused pharmaceutical controlled substances to the police department so that they may be disposed of in a safe, convenient and responsible manner.

All of the drugs collected will be turned over to the Canton Police Department to the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) at one of their sponsored Take-Back events.

Note that any loose pills, or dangerous, hazardous, or non-compliant items (including medical sharps and needles) will not be accepted. Nor will they take iodine-containing medications, mercury thermometers or illegal drugs

People wishing to drop off their drugs may bring them to the front desk of the police department in the Municipal Building at 60 Main St. People should ensure that the items are in some type of a container or sealed bag.

Canton Police Chief James Santimaw notes the following:

• Unused or expired prescription medications are a public safety issue, leading to accidental poisoning, overdose and abuse.

• Pharmaceutical drugs can be just as dangerous as street drugs when taken without a prescription or a doctor’s supervision.

• The majority of teenagers abusing prescription drugs get them from family and friends, and the home medicine cabinet. You could be a drug dealer and not even know it!

• The non-medical use of prescription drugs ranks second to only marijuana as the most common form of drug abuse in America.

If anyone has a question about what can be dropped off, they can contact the Canton PD at (315)386-4561, or review one of these websites:

http://www.dea.gov/, http://www.getsmartaboutdrugs.com/, http://www.justthinktwice.com/.