New location for Drug Takeback Day

Wendy Rohleder-Sook, FHSU Financial Aide employee, drops off two plastic bags filled with unwanted and unused medicines in McMindes Hall. — Wendy Rohleder-Sook, FHSU Financial Aid employee, drops off two plastic bags filled with unwanted and unused medicines in McMindes Hall.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

For the first time, a Fort Hays State University drop-off location for unwanted drugs is part of the Ellis County Drug Enforcement Unit annual Drug Takeback Day.

The Ellis County Law Enforcement Center, 105 W. 12th, has long been a drop-off site, but the building is undergoing renovation and closed to the public.

According to Ellis County Sheriff Detective Chuck White, FHSU 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.

An employee in the Financial Aid office, Wendy Rohleder-Sook, took advantage of the convenience and tossed several bottles and packs of unused and unwanted drugs–prescription and over-the-counter are accepted–into one of two green recycling carts provided for the program.

The on-campus site, manned by FHSU Police Sgt. Nathan Lang, is located in McMindes Residential Hall, just outside the cafeteria entrance.

“I’m hoping students will see us here when then come for lunch and then go back to their rooms to collect any unwanted drugs and bring them by,” said Lang.

Lang thinks the FHSU location is a great idea.

“We also have information here for the students to pick up and learn about the dangers of prescription drug abuse,” he said. Other pamphlets highlight alcohol abuse and alcohol poisonings.

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 other drop-off site is a drive-through location at the Good Samaritan Center, 27th and Canal.

Both locations were open until 2 p.m. this afternoon.

The takebacks are organized by the Ellis County Drug Enforcement Unit, which is made up of representatives from the Ellis County Sheriff’s Department, Hays Police Department, Kansas Bureau of Investigation and Ellis County Attorney’s Office.