Woodbridge, Va. –– Residents took old prescription drugs shopping with them Saturday.
At the collection center at Potomac Mills mall in Woodbridge, DEA agents collected 225 pounds of old, unused prescription drugs as part of the first-ever National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.
Statewide on Saturday officials collected 5,500 pounds of prescription drugs at more than 75 collection sites, said DEA spokeswoman Melissa Bell.
More than 10,000 pounds of prescription drugs were collected in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington.
It’s not known how many pound of drugs were collected nationwide, said Bell.
In addition to the DEA, Prince William police and Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli also helped to collect prescription drugs at Potomac Mills on Saturday.
In addition to the Woodbridge outlet mall, Stafford Hospital Center in Stafford also served as a collection point.
The event was organized to reduce the number of prescription drugs kept in medicine cabinets, and to curb the illegal use of prescription drugs, which have become increasing abused in recent years, said Cuccinelli.
