FARMINGTON — About 25 pounds of unwanted, unused and outdated prescription drugs have been collected at the Farmington Police Department in the last few weeks.

The department was not a collection site for last Saturday’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day but over past weeks, residents have taken unused prescriptions to the department. Officers processed them for submission last Saturday to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department, Bonnie Pomeroy, department secretary said.

Many residents do not want unused and outdated drugs left in their homes. Sometimes there’s a death in the family and the deceased’s prescriptions are brought in by family members, she said.

Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including home medicine cabinets.

The department accepts the unused prescription drugs in their original containers with labels. Pills placed in other containers such as daily dosage boxes can be counted as unlawful carrying of prescription drugs, she said.

This was the second time this year that Maine law enforcement, hospitals and health organizations have collected unwanted, unused and outdated prescription drugs so they can be disposed of safely. MDEA plans to hold these prescription drug collections about every six months.

The Drug Enforcement Agency, along with nearly 4,000 state and local law enforcement agencies throughout the United States, participated in similar drug collections in the fall of 2010 and this past April when more than 309 tons of pills were collected, according to information provided by the DEA.

Locally, prescription drugs were turned in to the Wilton Police Department, Livermore Falls Police Department and the Sheriff’s Department this past  Saturday.

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