Prescription Drug Take Back Events Held Across Colorado

DENVER (CBS4) - Authorities across Colorado are disposing of unused and expired medications as part of Saturday's prescription drug take back event.

Prescription drug abuse is a serious problem and studies show many pill abusers get them from unsuspecting friends and family.

Police say getting rid of the unused drugs helps keep them out of the wrong hands.

"We don't have young children, so I can imagine thinking about cupboards and cabinets and how you lock-safe your cabinets. We raised four children, so we don't have that stuff anymore, so it's not a risk at our household, but what are we going to do with stuff, throw it down the gutter, throw it in the trash? That's not the right way to dispose of this stuff," said Charlie Hernandez, who dropped off expired drugs.

Last year Americans turned in 371 tons of unused drugs at thousands of sites nationwide.