FROM STAFF REPORTS

Law-enforcement agencies across the region will participate Saturday in the "National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day" program to help prevent pill abuse and theft.

The program gives people a chance to get rid of potentially dangerous, expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs.

Hours for the event are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. People can drop off those drugs at several sites free of charge, and with no questions asked.

"Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse," the Virginia State Police said in a news release. "Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings, and overdoses due to these drugs."

Officials say previous methods of disposal, such as flushing them down toilets or throwing them into the trash, pose potential safety and health hazards.

Last April, Americans turned in more than 552,000 pounds--276 tons--at more than 5,600 sites operated by the DEA and nearly 4,300 state and local law enforcement partners.

The four previous take-back events took in more than 1.5 million pounds nationally--nearly 775 tons--of pills.

In Virginia, the State Police and Drug Enforcement Administration are hosting the event. Participating agencies in the region and their drop-off locations include:

Fredericksburg Police Department--the department's front parking lot, 2200 Cowan Blvd.; Mary Washington Hospital Tompkins Martin Medical Building, 1101 Sam Perry Blvd.; by the mailboxes at the Fredericksburg Fire Department, 601 Princess Anne St.

University of Mary Washington Police--Bell Tower on Double Drive across from GW Hall, 1301 College Ave.

Spotsylvania Sheriff's Office--Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center under main entrance awning, 4600 Spotsylvania Parkway; Mary Washington Healthcare Emergency and Outpatient Center Lee's Hill, 10401 Spotsylvania Ave., under the awning.

Stafford County Sheriff's Office--Stafford Hospital parking lot, 101 Hospital Center Blvd.

Caroline County Sheriff's Office--Food Lion parking lot, 15432 Rogers Clark Blvd.

Colonial Beach Police Department--department parking lot, 907 McKinney Blvd.

Town of Orange Police Department--in front of police building, 249 Blue Ridge Drive.

Louisa County Sheriff's Office--Food Lion in Mineral parking lot, 11010 Kentucky Springs Road; Walmart parking lot near entrance, 164 Camp Creek Parkway; Food Lion in Louisa parking lot, 501 E. Main St.

Virginia State Police, division headquarters in Culpeper, 15148 State Police Road.

Quantico Marine Corps Base--Barbers Gym, 2073 Barnett Ave.; Family Housing Office, 13201 Perkins St.; Main Exchange/Commissary, 3500 Russell Road; Branch Medical Clinic, 3259 Kaitlin Ave.