Sheriff department collects 235 pounds of pills

However, Albemarle County officials collected more than 1,200 pounds of pills and more than 250 pounds of sharps, or needles.

Items collected were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Agency to be properly disposed of. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

Anne Arundel County Police collected 412 pounds of prescription medications during Saturday’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Initiative. Unused prescription drugs thrown into the trash can be retrieved and abused or illegally sold. “Unused or expired prescription medications are a public health issue, leading to accidental poisoning, overdose and abuse”.

Many people probably don’t even realize they have old prescriptions lying around in medicine cabinets, desk drawers and other places around their home, and might not immediately notice if they were taken.

“Prescription drug abuse is a huge problem and this is a great opportunity for folks around the country to help reduce the threat”, said DEA Acting Administrator Chuck Rosenberg.

On Saturday, September 26, 2015 the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) set up at several locations in Mariposa County allowing local residents to return their unwanted, unneeded, or expired prescription drugs for safe disposal.