By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

The Ellis County Drug Enforcement Unit will once again host the annual drug take-back day this week to help residents dispose of unwanted or unused prescription drugs.

This year’s event is again held in cooperation with the Good Samaritan Society and, new this year, Fort Hays State University Residential Life.

The event is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday.

Ellis County Sheriff Detective Chuck White said residential life officials contacted the sheriff’s department about taking part in the program giving university students, faculty and staff have an on-campus location to drop off unwanted medications.

“They’ve researched it and think it’s a good program and they want to offer it to their population,” White said. “We’re very happy to have them.”

White said the disposal of the medication with “prevent the poisoning children and pets and collecting old meds prevents misuse by children and adults.”

In recent years, overdoses from prescription medications are on the rise, and there are more overdoses from those medicines than from illegal drugs, according to White.

As in previous years, the program is free and completely anonymous.

White said officers will take medicines in capsules, tablets, pill and liquid form — but syringes and aerosols will not be accepted.

The Good Samaritan Center is located at 27th and Canal. The site on the FHSU campus will be inside McMindes Hall, 410 Agnew Lane.