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MACON, MO -- It’s time to start collecting old pill bottles with unused medication that you may have sitting around the house.

Last April, Americans turned in more than 500,000 pounds of prescription drugs.

Medications that stay in home medicine cabinets are highly susceptible to misuse and abuse.

So, on September 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Macon Police Department is holding a drug takeback at the C&R Supermarket parking lot in Macon, Missouri.  

One officer said this is the third time the department has done a takeback and it will continue as long as it’s needed.

“It seems to be a very high rise in abuse and misuse of prescription drugs,” Macon Police Chief Steve Olinger said.

“Also, with the flushing of the medications going down the drains and ending up in landfills that (creates) a hazardous situation and it can be found in our drinking water."

The Federal Government does not require monitoring or testing for pharmaceuticals in drinking water.

If you have old medicines from your pets, you're in luck, too!

Macon Police are also taking back medicines distributed by veterinarians.

If you can't make it on Saturday, September 29, Macon Police will take prescriptions back until October 2 the police department.