News Release

WARSAW – On Saturday, April 30, the Drug Enforcement Administration is sponsoring the annual, nationwide “Prescription Drug Take Back” initiative.

The “Take Back” initiative seeks to prevent prescription drug misuse and theft through proper disposal of prescription drugs.

Prescription drug drop-off boxes are permanently placed in locations throughout Kosciusko County.

The Prescription Drug Take Back events and drug drop-off boxes are safe, popular, and responsible ways for the public to legally dispose of prescription drugs. No questions are asked. Kosciusko County residents are encouraged to use the Kosciusko County Prescription Drug Drop-Off Box locations.

• Claypool Police Department – 408 S Graceland Ave, Claypool *recently installed*
• Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office – 221 W Main St, Warsaw
• Mentone Police Department – 201 W Main St, Mentone
• Milford Police Department – 121 S Main St, Milford
• Silver Lake Police Department – 604 N Jefferson St, Silver Lake
• Syracuse Police Department – 310 N Huntington St, Syracuse
• Warsaw Police Department – 2191 E Fort Wayne St, Warsaw
• Winona Lake Fire Department – 1000 Kings Hwy, Winona Lake

Area residents are encouraged to safely dispose of prescription medications during the “Prescription Drug Take Back” and throughout the year. K-CODE, Kosciusko Coalition on Drug Education, manages the Kosciusko County Prescription Drug Drop-Off Box initiative.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue.  Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion and misuse. The rate of prescription drug misuse in the U.S. is alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that most misused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines, flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash, both pose potential safety and health hazards.