Blue Ash residents can drop off expired or unwanted prescription medications for free, anonymous disposal on Saturday, Oct. 24, at the Municipal and Safety Center, 4343 Cooper Road.

The Blue Ash Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will staff the collection site in the front parking lot from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., according to a city announcement. No questions asked.

The event is part of the DEA's 31st National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. More than 4,300 law enforcement agencies and 4,400 collection sites are participating nationwide, the DEA said in an Oct. 7 press release.

What's accepted: Pills and patches.

What's not accepted at the Blue Ash site: Liquids, needles, or sharps. The national program accepts sealed liquid medications in their original containers, but the Blue Ash collection does not accept liquids.

The service is anonymous. Residents do not need to identify themselves or explain what they are turning in.

DEA Administrator Terry Cole said the program has helped Americans remove more than 20 million pounds of unneeded medications from homes since 2010. Participating prevents potentially addictive drugs from falling into the wrong hands, Cole said in the agency's press release.

Medicines that sit in home cabinets are susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse, according to the Blue Ash Police Department's drug take back program page. Prescription opioids such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine and morphine are among the most frequently misused prescription pain medications, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

The Blue Ash Police Department and DEA hold the collection twice a year, in April and October.

Removing unused medications from the home reduces the risk of misuse or accidental ingestion, the DEA said.

Residents who cannot make the Oct. 24 event have other options. More than 15,300 pharmacies, hospitals and businesses offer safe medication disposal year-round, according to the DEA. Residents can find a registered disposal location at DEATakeBack.com.