A primary youth substance use prevention strategy is proper disposal of unused prescription medication.
Unused prescription drugs can find their way into the wrong hands for both youth and adults. Kosciusko Coalition on Drug Education applauds the efforts of individuals from across the country and in Kosciusko County who cleaned out their homes and turned in - safely and anonymously - a record amount of prescription drugs, according to a news release from K-CODE.
The Drug Enforcement Administration sponsors nationwide “Prescription Drug Take Back” initiatives. 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. Area residents are encouraged to safely dispose of prescription medications during the “Prescription Drug Take Back” and throughout the year. K-CODE manages the Kosciusko County Prescription Drug Drop-Off Box initiative in partnership with Kosciusko Cares and Kosciusko Drug Free Coalition, Kosciusko County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Kosciusko County Coroner’s Office, Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office, Silver Lake Police Department, Winona Lake Police Department, Milford Police Department and Syracuse Police Department.
During the months of November 2023 through April 2024, Kosciusko County residents properly disposed of 864.5 pounds of medication through the initiative. The total amount of properly disposed medication through the Kosciusko County Prescription Drug Drop-Off Box initiative is an astounding 4,665 pounds and countless lives that may have been saved.
Drop box locations for proper disposal of prescription medications are at the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office, 221 W. Main St., Warsaw; Claypool, 408 S. Graceland Ave., Claypool; Pierceton Police Department, 207 N. 1st St., Pierceton; 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; and Kosciusko County Coroner’s Office, 1275 W. Lake St., Warsaw.