MAYETTA: The Potawatomi Tribal Police department collected approximately 25 pounds of unused or expired prescription drugs during National Drug Take Back Day last Saturday at the police station.

The department and PBPN leaders worked in partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the U.S. Attorney of Kansas Barry Grissom in getting the word out to the community that the tribal police department was going to be a collection site where people could drop off old or unused medicines and dispose of them properly.

According to the DEA website, studies show that prescription drugs are often obtained from home medicine cabinets and that approximately 2,500 teens use prescription drugs each day to get high for the first time. The website also stated that disposing of medicines properly is a concern for saving the environment.