By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post

Due to recent changes by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, the Ellis County Sheriff’s Department will take over hosting the DEA’s well-known prescription drug take-back days.

The regulations passed in the fall allow law enforcement, registered clinics, hospitals, nursing homes and pharmacies to collect and safely dispose of expired or unneeded prescription medicine.

Detective Chuck White from the Ellis County Sheriff’s Department said the new disposal rules make the collection and disposal of prescribed medications more convenient.

“We were excited to participate with the DEA all these years as they scheduled their events and helped us advertise their events, but now we have been given autonomy to do the program ourselves,” he said. “We are excited about giving the community the opportunity to bring us their prescription or over-the-counter drugs year round instead of just one or two specific days a year.”

The Ellis County Sheriff’s Office will continue to sponsor take-back days throughout the year, and organizations and businesses can help sponsor an event with the help of the ECSO.

For more information, contact White at (785) 625-1040.

As of Wednesday, White said,no hospitals, pharmacies or nursing homes in Ellis and surrounding counties have taken advantage of the new regulations by registering for the disposal program.