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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- Pill-popping, pharmaceutical parties, 'skittling,' no matter what you call it, prescription drug abuse is a big problem. Last year in Colorado, more people died from prescription drugs than traffic crashes.

Saturday the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) spent four hours collecting expired, unwanted and unused prescriptions. Halfway through the event, at just one Colorado Springs location, they had collected 12 boxes equaling 300 pounds of medications. The weekend collection is part of the DEA's second National Prescription Drug Take Back.

"The level that is rising is just out of this world," Matthew Barden with the DEA said. "The increase is something that's been very dramatic."

Part o f the reason for the growing number of abusers is that Oxycodone, Percocet and Vicodin prescriptions have tripled in volume.

"I've been wondering for a while what to do with outdated prescription drugs," Reta Saine, who was disposing drugs, said.

Not knowing where to dispose of medications and easy access in medicine cabinets is a major concern. While initially given for a legitimate reason, if unused and kept, prescriptions can be abused by anyone.

"Especially with the kids going in the medicine cabinet they take that and next thing you know they're in the hospital," Ken Reading, who was disposing drugs, said.

There are a lot of wrong ways to get rid of your leftover medications, but DEA officials said the best method is to pack them up and save them for the next collection, which should be in a few months.