More than 16 pounds of prescription medication was disposed of Saturday by the Demopolis Police Department in their first Drug Take Back initiative.

In a four hour span, residents filed to the DPD Mobile Command Unit in the Walmart parking lot to turn over various expired or no-longer-needed prescription medications.

“It was a little more than I expected,” Demopolis Chief of Police Tommie Reese said of the volume dropped off. “We had really good participation from the public and we’re looking forward to doing it again next year.”

The aim of the drug take back program is to keep prescribed medications out of the hands of children, as well as keeping illicit drugs off the streets.