One in six U.S. teens is taking prescription medicine to get high or change moods, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney from the Middle District of Georgia.

“Prescription medicines and over-the-counter cough medications have become the most commonly abused drugs among 12- to 13-year-olds,” U.S. Attorney Michael J. Moore said in the release.

Moore is joining the U.S. Department of Justice and Drug Enforcement Administration in a national initiative to collect old prescription drugs.

“Cleaning out medicine cabinets and securing medications will reduce prescription medicine abuse among teens, by making sure they are unable to access them easily,” Moore said in the release.

The goal of this week’s Medicine Abuse Project is to prevent a half-million teens from abusing medicine by removing the temptation from homes and medicine cabinets.

Law enforcement community partners will be collecting unwanted medicines in several locations across Middle Georgia in the fifth national prescription drug round-up Saturday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office will be collecting medicine at the Wal-Mart at 5955 Zebulon Road.

The list of other participating agencies is being compiled online daily through www.medicineabuseproject.org.

The locations listed include the Eatonton Police Department at 214 West Marion St. in Eatonton; the Oconee Drug Task Force at 327 Pearl Bates Ave. in Eastman; Fred’s Pharmacy at 9215 Ga. 19 North in Zebulon; Wal-Mart at 136 East Jarman St. in Hazlehurst; the Thomaston Police Department at 1100 Barnesville St. in Thomaston; and the Crisp County Sheriff’s Office at 196 Ga. 300 South in Cordele.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office expects authorities in Milledgeville, Ivey, Washington County and Monroe County to participate.

Their locations had not yet been posted Wednesday morning at www.medicineabuseproject.org.

To contact writer Liz Fabian, call 744-4303.