More than 6 pounds of prescription and over-the-counter drugs were collected Saturday as part of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.

Five sites in Hall County collected the medicines in an effort to prevent prescription drug abuse and accidental overdoses.

In Hall County in 2010, there were 20 cases of accidental prescription drug overdoses resulting in death, said JP Banks, project coordinator with the Drug Free Coalition of Hall County.

"We need to stress to parents and adult caregivers that misuse and abuse of prescription drugs are major concerns," Banks said.

"Teens and adults are abusing these drugs and some are even dying because of it. Parents can protect their teens by safely securing their meds, keeping track of medication quantities and learning how to properly dispose of medications when they are no longer needed."

It was a collaborative effort between the Drug Free Coalition of Hall County, Safe Kids Gainesville/Hall County, Hall County Sheriff's Office, Gainesville Police Department, Oakwood Police Department, Citizens Pharmacy and Murrayville Pharmacy.