The U.S. Drug Administration reports that prescription drug abuse continues to be a problem in Virginia.

On Saturday, Augusta Health initiated an effort that may help police keep prescription pills out of the wrong hands.

More than 200 cars came through the Operation Medicine Cabinet drop-off, and more than 50,000 doses of medications were collected.

People dropped off anything from prescription pills to vitamins. Volunteers then sorted through the medications.

The Drug Enforcement Administration requires that controlled medicines, such as pain pills, go through the sheriff's office. Those drugs will be destroyed in a separate incinerator from the other pills.

The Augusta County Sheriff's Office explains why proper disposal is so important.

"Medication, if you get a person who's addicted to that medication can continue to keep using that medication, or maybe if that medication's not properly stored or destroyed or put in the trash can somewhere around the household, that person who's addicted in the neighborhood can pick that medication out of the trash can," says Gary Taylor, with the Augusta County Sheriff's Office.

This is the first time Augusta Health has held Operation Medicine Cabinet, and it hopes to make it an annual event.

Augusta Health says this type of disposal is also better for the environment.