The national DEA Drug Take Back Day will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 26, at various locations in the region.

To help mitigate drug overdose and drug misuse, residents are urged to take unused medications and dispose of them at one of the take back sites.

The Altoona Police Department will be at Thompson Pharmacy, 600 E. Chestnut Ave., where participants may dispose of medication in its original container or by removing the medication from its container and disposing of it directly into the disposal box. If an original container is submitted, identifying information should be removed from the prescription label.

All solid dosage pharmaceutical products and liquids in consumer containers may be accepted. Liquid products, such as cough syrup, should remain in their original container with the cap tightly sealed to prevent leaks.

Intravenous solutions, injectables and syringes will not be accepted due to potential hazard posed by blood-borne pathogens. In addition, illicit substances are not a part of this initiative and should not be placed in collection containers.

The Van Zandt VA Medical Center and VA Police are also taking part in the take back event. Unused medications can be disposed of at the Van Zandt VA Medical Center, 2907 Pleasant Valley Blvd., Altoona, in the main lobby.

The VA operates a drug takeback program year-round in a med-safe drug drop-off bin found near the main entrance of the Van Zandt VA facility.

Other take back sites in the region include the Blair County Sheriff’s Office at the Blair County Courthouse, Cresson Township Police Department, Cambria Township Police Department and the Carrolltown Police Department.

To find the nearest take back site, check out the “Collection Site Locator” at dea.gov/takebackday.