It can make a person a target — keeping unwanted prescription drugs in a house. That’s why local officials want to offer a legitimate way to get rid of them.

This June the Lawrence-Scioto Solid Waste District and the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office will team up to offer one day where residents can bring their unwanted medications to two locations in the county for legal disposal. Joining them as a sponsor will be St. Mary’s Medical Center.

“Our goal is to help rid the streets of prescription drugs,” Sheriff Jeff Lawless said. “Rather than drop them in our waterways or in the trash cans, they can turn them over to us.”

Lawless conducted a similar program last year in conjunction with the solid waste district’s household hazardous waste disposal day. This year the drug disposal will be open to the Tri-State, not just Lawrence County.

“We have elderly people and people on medications who are targets for drug addicts,” Lawless said. “A lot of times we find a relative of someone taking medication and stealing from that person.”

Last year’s program brought in 80 pounds of pills and 240 pounds of prescription drugs, liquids and paraphernalia.

“I commend Sheriff Lawless and I couldn’t do this without his support,” Dan Palmer of the solid waste district said. “The U.S. EPA encourages the district to have this so people will stop flushing medicines. This is a way to dispose of old, outdated drugs you don’t need anymore.”

Last year all medications were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Agency who destroyed them.

“If they do not (this time), we will take them to a burn lot and douse them with diesel fuel and incinerate them,” Lawless said. “Every little bit helps. It gives people peace of mind. They no longer have it in their home, where a family member or someone breaking it will get that medication.”

Locations and times will be announced later.