The 11 sites in Schuylkill County that took part in Saturday's National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day collected 303 1/2 pounds of prescription drugs, which filled 21 cardboard boxes.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., residents dropped off expired, unwanted and unused prescription drugs at police departments in Tamaqua, Pine Grove, Orwigsburg, Butler Township, Mahanoy City, Port Carbon, McAdoo and Shenandoah, and the county sheriff's department, the Pottsville Area School District and the state police station in Reedsville.
Schuylkill County Sheriff Joseph Groody said Wednesday that the county is safer because the drugs will not fall into the wrong hands.
"It's less drugs that some people can break into homes and steal," he said, adding that surrendering the drugs also keeps them out of the hands of children.
The take-back is headed by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency and coordinated in the county by the sheriff's office, Schuylkill County Drug and Alcohol Commission and various police departments, Groody said.
The drugs were given to the sheriff's office and were collected by the Drug Enforcement Agency earlier this week.
The collection was less than previous take-backs. Groody said a DEA agent told him collections were also down in other locations.
In the county's October 2013 take-back, 351 pounds were collected, In April, it was 369 pounds.
Meanwhile, Groody said expired, unwanted and unused prescription drugs can always be dropped off at the sheriff's office when the courthouse is open.
A deputy or Groody will take the drugs and secure them for collection. Twentyfive of the 303 1/2 pounds collected Saturday were acquired that way.
Groody said he hopes to add a police department in future take-backs.