It’s time to gather up all of your unused or expired medication. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is partnering with the Florida Crime Prevention Association, CVS Pharmacy, and the Tanger Outlet Mall for “Operation Medicine Cabinet,” the latest installment of the Pharmaceutical Take Back Program.

On Saturday, April 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. you will have an opportunity to drop off your old, unused prescription and over the counter medications for proper disposal.

Make plans

to drop off these items at the Tanger Outlet Mall located at 20350 Summerlin Road, Ste 3150 (beside the Jockey store), in Fort Myers.

A collection point will be held in the fall in Lehigh Acres, officials with the Sheriff’s Office said.

So far this year the Lee County Sheriff’s Office has collected:

Pills – 395,622

Ointments/Creams – 518

Patches – 3,080

Syringes – 32,031

Inhalers – 1,162

Liquids – 2,516

This represents a total of 402,898 unused prescriptions out of our homes and off of our streets.

Every day in the U.S. approximately 2,500 youths between the ages of 12 and 17 abuse prescription drugs for the first time. The Lee County Sheriff’s office is taking a proactive stance in removing and properly disposing of unused medications and needles. This can keep them from falling into the wrong hands and also prevent the drugs from being flushed down the toilet which poses an environmental danger.

There is no cost to turn in your medications and all participants will remain anonymous.