Kinney Drugs stores will hold collection days for unused and expired medicines the last Saturdays in January, February and March.

The Gouverneur-based retail chain is encouraging people to drop off unused or expired non-controlled prescription medications so that they can be properly disposed of, to prevent accidental poisonings, substance abuse, and environmental pollution.

Non-controlled prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines, ointments, sprays, inhalers, creams, medication vials and pet medications will be accepted.

Examples of what cannot be accepted are narcotic prescriptions that include codeine, hydrocodone (Vicodin) and morphine. Illegal drugs, biohazardous materials, needles, personal care products and household hazardous wastes like paint or pesticides are not eligible in this program.

Medicine collection dates are Saturday, Jan. 29, Saturday, Feb. 26, and Saturday, March 26 at all Kinney Drug locations, from open to close. The collections are free and open to the public.

The proper disposal of medications has increasingly become an issue of environmental and safety concern across the United States. According to a study conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 70 to 80 percent of substance abusers said they took medications that belonged to a friend or relative. In addition, pharmaceuticals have been found in the drinking water of at least 41 million Americans, according to a March 2008 Associated Press investigation.

Michael Duteau, director of pharmacy operations for Kinney Drugs, said that after their pharmacists sort the expired or unused medications, “they will be properly destroyed at a federally licensed facility.”

All medication brought to the drop-off must be in the original bottle or package with the name of the product clearly visible. Personal names and addresses may be removed or blacked out.