The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office is hosting a Drug Take Back Event, scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 24.

Area residents who have expired, unused or unwanted medications are invited to drop them off for disposal between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. No liquids or needles can be accepted.

The event will take place in three locations in Hamilton County, according to Sheriff Doug Timmons. Drop-off locations will be in the Webster City Hy-Vee parking lot near the south gas pumps, Ellsworth Jewell Stanhope Police Department in the rear of Jewell City Hall and at the Stratford Van Diest Medical Clinic in the alley.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows year after year that the majority of misused and abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including someone else’s medication being stolen from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines–flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash–both pose potential safety and health hazards.