SWAMPSCOTT — The Police Department recently collected approximately 25 pounds of unwanted prescription drugs through its participation in the National Take Back Initiative.

Residents were invited to the station earlier this week to deliver their pills. According to Sargent Candace Doyle, the department worked in conjunction with the country’s Drug Enforcement Administration to properly dispose of the drugs in an undisclosed location.

“This reminds people that we should check our medicine cabinets,” Doyle said. “It helps protect the safety and health of our community and can minimize the risk of medication falling into the wrong hands.”

Doyle recalled instances in her career as a police officer in which she has handled cases in which young children or people with substance use challenges have been exposed to prescription medication they should have been.

While the department placed an emphasis on the initiative this past week, the department and the CVS Pharmacy located on Paradise Road have prescription drop-boxes in which drugs can be deposited at any time of the year.

“If someone can’t get themselves to the police station to do a drop-off and they need an officer to come pick it up, we would be able to,” Doyle said.

According to the department, the most abused prescription drugs are acquired through friends and family. It argues that bringing them to the police are safer than any alternative disposal method.