Hundreds cleared their medicine cabinets and headed to Martha Jefferson Hospital's Free Unwanted Medication Drop-Off Event Saturday. The Drug Enforcement Administration or DEA teamed up with Albemarle County police for the third annual take back event to take pills and needles off the street.
Last April, Americans turned in 188 tons of prescription drugs at nearly 5,400 sites like the one at Martha Jefferson Hospital operated by the DEA and law enforcement partners.
Jacklene Martin of Martha Jefferson Hospital said, "You should not throw your medications down your commode or in the trash because it could get into the environment and be harmful to fish and other wildlife."
The site ensures the drugs are destroyed the right way. Albemarle County police say the hospital collected 648 pounds of prescription drugs. That's almost 50 pounds more than last year.
Click here for more information.
