The drug collection receptacle at the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department is undergoing repairs and will not be accessible to the public until further notice.

The collection/drop-box was installed in April 2012 for the residents of Kosciusko County to safely dispose of their expired or no longer needed prescription drugs. In September, it was hit by a delivery vehicle and damaged. Today, the receptacle and the cement foundation were removed to make way for the new drop box to be installed.

KCSD Sgt. Chad Hill says, until the box is replaced, citizens can drop off their expired or no longer needed prescription drugs at the front desk of the sheriff’s department. Over the counter medications, needles and liquids are not accepted.

The prescription drug collection receptacle was made possible by the Kosciusko Coalition on Drug Education, also called K-C.O.D.E. K-C.O.D.E. President Lance Grubbs contacted KCSD to become the lead agency for the National Take-Back Initiative Program which is a drug collection day held twice a year. A federal DEA agent told local officials about the prescription drop-box and one was purchased for outside the sheriff’s department.

Inside and outside surveillance cameras monitor the building, parking lot and the collection box 24 hours a day, which allows the Kosciusko County Jail Division to view any potential tampering of the box.

The Drug Enforcement Administration states that prescription drug abuse statistics are very high and have been increasing at a steady rate nationally. By providing a location and collection box to dispose of such items, it eliminates the potential for illegal or misuse of medications. It also allows citizens to have their medications destroyed properly by incineration rather than disposing of them in landfills or a more dangerous method; a waste water/sanitary system.