More than 80 pounds of expired or unwanted prescription medicines were turned in by citizens Saturday at the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office.

The collection was in partnership with the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, sheriff’s Narcotics Detective Lt. Egon Grissom said.

“This is 80 pounds of pills that will not be flushed into the water system,” Grissom said. “It’s 80 pounds of pills that are not going to be abused. It’s 80 pounds of pills off the street.”

Many of the citizens who turned in the prescription medicine were concerned the patient’s name on the prescription bottle might be misused, said sheriff’s Narcotics Detective Lt. Egon Grissom. Citizens who are concerned may peel off the label.

The prescription medicine is collected by law enforcement officers, sealed and shipped for incineration.