A medication return box, a safe place to dispose of unused or outdated medications, has been installed at the Tisbury police station. The drop box is the second medication disposal station on the Island.

The new drop box, which was brought to the police station in early June, was paid for by the Martha’s Vineyard Youth Task Force and the Tisbury board of health. The Edgartown police station also has a medication disposal site.

Tisbury police chief Dan Hanavan said the Tisbury drop box is in a convenient location for people to dispose of medications on their way to the ferry. “People are dropping off stuff already,” he said.

Mr. Hanavan said removing drugs from homes thwarts would-be medication thieves — last year Edgartown had several break-ins where prescription drugs were stolen. Disposing of medications this way also keeps them out of the ground water and out of reach of children.

The station accepts unused prescription and over-the-counter medications and patches, but does not accept needles or inhalers. Materials can be dropped off at the front desk from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. After those hours, Mr. Hanavan said, people should call ahead to make sure somebody will be there. The police station telephone number is 508-696-4240.