SafeKids of Dawson County has teamed up with local agencies to keep prescription drugs out of the wrong hands.

The group will host a pill drop Saturday for residents who wish to safely discard unused or expired medications. The drive-through drop-off will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at CVS and Kroger.

Dawson County Sheriff’s Sgt. Johnny Holtzclaw said his department has seen a surge in prescription pill arrests the last few years.

“Prescription pills are more easily accessible than drugs like methamphetamine either by fraud or by theft from someone who has a legitimate prescription,” Holtzclaw said. “Getting these drugs off the street is making it safe for others.”

The prescription drug take-back event allows the public to safely dispose of expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs or over-the-counter medications.

Residents may hand over items without getting out of cars, no questions asked, said sheriff’s Lt. Tony Wooten.

According to SafeKids Georgia, more than 2 million unintentional poison exposures from prescription pills are reported in the U.S. each year.

At the conclusion of the event, the sheriff’s office will weigh the medications received and report the amount to drug enforcement agents. The pills will then be incinerated.