FLORENCE, Ky. - A drug task force in northern Kentucky is urging parents to properly dispose of their unused prescription drugs, and installing drop boxes where the old pills can be thrown out.

The Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force is planning to install the boxes at the Boone County Sheriff, Florence Police and Campbell County Police departments. A fourth box will be placed at Highland Heights' new city building, which is under construction, The Kentucky Enquirer reported.

Bill Mark, the drug strike force's director, said the goal is keeping prescription drugs out of the hands of teenagers and children.

"And if we can keep prescription drugs out of the hands of teenagers and young adults, they're less likely to abuse drugs when they're older," he said. "And ... especially for a teenager, the most likely place for them to get prescription drugs that they'll abuse is in the family's medicine cabinet."

The program is one of dozens around the country as communities attempt to clean out medicine cabinets by setting up drop-boxes or other disposal methods for people to dump their unused and expired prescription drugs. The Associated Press reported in January that at least 20 states now have collection programs for unused medications, and several saw record hauls in 2009.

Mark said the boxes are secure. He said drug strike force empties the boxes monthly and the contents are destroyed through incineration.

The Erlanger Police empties its own box. The drug strike force empties the one at Kenton County Police Department. The drug strike force will empty the boxes at Florence Police, Boone County Sheriff, Campbell County Police and the Highland Heights City Building.

Mark the task force will continue to place the boxes as funding becomes available.

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Information from: The Kentucky Enquirer, http://www.nky.com