About 44 pounds of medication was collected Saturday through Hall County’s participation in the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, compared to 6 pounds collected during a similar effort six months ago.

The sheriff’s office collected 6 pounds, Oakwood 12 and Gainesville Police 26, said Sgt. Stephen Wilbanks, sheriff’s office public information officer.

The event is aimed at removing unwanted or unused prescriptions or other medications to address prescription drug abuse.
Gainesville Police officer Kevin Holbrook said people brought in flu medicine, codeine, pain pills and other drugs.

Some that were expired or used by family members who died. A nursing home also dropped off medication.
He said the drugs will be turned over to state law enforcement officials to be incinerated.

The take-back day, supported by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Safe Kids of Gainesville-Hall County and the Drug Free Coalition of Hall County, is usually held every six months, Wilbanks said.