OXFORD — Police Chief Jonathan Tibbetts said his department, along with others in the area, will participate in the federal Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

The nationwide effort aims to provide a safe, convenient and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications, according to the DEA.

Officers at the Oxford Public Safety Building on Route 26 will be available to take leftover, outdated, unwanted and dangerous prescription medications for safe disposal with no questions asked. Only pills and patches will be taken; no liquids or needles or sharps.

The service is free.

Last October, Americans turned in 324 tons of prescription drugs at over 4,114 sites operated by the DEA and its thousands of state and local law enforcement partners, a news release from the DEA said. When those results are combined with what was collected in its seven previous Take-Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in over 3.4 million pounds of pills.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue, according to a news release by the DEA. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from home medicine cabinets. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines — flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash — both pose potential safety and health hazards, the DEA said.