The Washington County Sheriff's Office is on track to collect and destroy nearly four tons of prescription drugs and other medications by year's end.

That's nearly twice the 4,360 pounds collected in 2013 in Sheriff Bill Hutton's drug take-back campaign, which includes anonymous disposals at county buildings and drive-through events in parking lots.

The latest public events will be held Saturday at the county's Government Center in Stillwater and farther north at the Community Center in Scandia.

Hutton has said that unused prescription drugs represent a gateway to serious addictions, such as heroin use. Many people don't realize that medicines stored in their houses can be misused, taken by someone other than intended, and even stolen, he said.

"We're trying to eliminate the diversion of controlled substances into the hand of our youth and other citizens," said Investigations Cmdr. Brian Mueller, who oversees the narcotics division at the Sheriff's Office.

All seven metro counties have started drug take-back programs in recent years, including Hennepin County, where the Sheriff's Office reported collecting nearly seven tons of unused medications in 2013 and 4,220 pounds in the first four months of this year. Vicodin, oxycodone, codeine and fentanyl were the most common controlled substances collected in Hennepin County.

In 2012, the East Metro Crime Prevention Coalition — Washington, Ramsey and Dakota counties — decided that collecting prescription and over-the-counter medications would become a key strategy in the war against drug abuse.

In June, the Washington County Sheriff's Office transported 3,660 pounds of surrendered drugs to a disposal incinerator. That number could climb to nearly four tons by January, said Sgt. Larry Osterman, who tracks the numbers.

"I think the problem is consistent and growing," Mueller said. "People are becoming more and more aware of the problems."

The Sheriff's Office doesn't know what types of drugs are most commonly surrendered because disposal is anonymous and the volume is too great to sort, he said. However, it's believed that most pharmaceuticals are coming from people's homes.

The Washington County concern mirrors state and national warnings that prescription drug abuse is increasing, causing a growing number of accidental poisonings and overdoses. Improper disposal, such as flushing the drugs or throwing them away, also causes health and environmental problems, the sheriff said.

Saturday's take-back events will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in both Stillwater and Scandia. Anyone donating in Stillwater should go to the main parking lot of the government center at 14949 62nd St. N. The Scandia Community Center collection is at 14727 209th St. N.

Service is free and anonymous, no questions asked, Mueller said.

The Sheriff's Office at the government center and county service centers in Forest Lake and Cottage Grove also have disposal bins. Anyone can drop off prescription drugs, including over-the-counter medications, during weekday business hours.

Kevin Giles • 651-925-5037