The Decatur County Sheriff’s Office is now providing citizens with a year-round way to safely dispose of any prescription drugs they no longer want or need.

In the past, the DCSO has held special “drop-off” events but now citizens can deposit unwanted prescription drugs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, Chief Sheriff’s Deputy Wendell Cofer said.

The dropoff box is located in the lobby of the Decatur County Jail, which is always open to the public.

The box is sponsored by the National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators. According to the association’s web site, old prescription drugs have become the target of theft and misuse, often by people who have access to a residence.

In particular, youth aged 12 to 17 are prone to abusing prescription drugs, with much of their supply coming from the medicine cabinets of their family or people they know.

Law enforcement agencies are the only entities legally able to accept the unwanted medications and process them for eventual, court-ordered destruction, Cofer said.

“Pill drop-offs have been a success nationwide, because many people recognize the need to remove unwanted medication from their home,” Cofer said. “The drop-off box provides a safe method to dispose of the pills, so that they don’t end up in a landfill or a water supply.”