Officers were at the Eastwood Mall on Friday to pick up prescription drugs.

The Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office and Mercy Health held “Operation: Empty Medicine Cabinet.”

They collected prescription drugs from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m. They take the tens of thousands of pills dropped off, as well as their old containers, and destroyed them.

Officers accepted unused or expired drugs in their original containers at the Sears merchandise pick-up door.

Accepted medications included pills, capsules, patches, gels, powders, ointments, syrups, pet medications, vitamins and inhalers.

Although you can usually find drug drop-off boxes at local police stations, organizers said they discovered that many people prefer this kind of program.

“It’s much easier for people that, you know, are disabled or a little older who have some mobility issues, for them to be able to just come up, drive right up. We’ll go to their car, take their medications, then they don’t have to worry about parking,” said Lauren Thorp from the Mental Health and Recovery Board. 

Organizers hold collections like this twice per year.