News File Photo Opioid medications dispensed by an Alpena pharmacy appear in this 2019 News file photo.

ALPENA — Residents can safely drop off expired, unused, and unwanted pills at the Michigan State Police-Alpena Post or Alpena County Sheriff’s Office from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday as part of a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration prescription drug take-back event.

While drugs can be left at police agencies during the rest of the year, the DEA sponsors take-back days to encourage the public to remove unneeded medications from their homes to help prevent medication misuse and opioid addiction before it starts.

Police will accept tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms of prescription drugs during the take-back event. Liquids, syringes and other sharps, and illicit drugs will not be accepted.

Police will accept vaping devices and cartridges if lithium batteries are removed.