Prescription drug disposal comes to Bureau County
Friday, August, 27, 2010
By Matthew Baker
lasallereporter@newstrib.com
The Prescription Drug Disposal Program (P2D2) that has been giving La Salle County residents a safe and convenient way to dispose of unneeded medication for more than a year is now spreading to Bureau and Hennepin counties.
Drop boxes have been set up in locations around the counties where people can anonymously dispose of any medication. The program is intended to keep unwanted and expired medications out of landfills and the water supply, where aging chemicals could potentially cause environmental problems. There’s also a safety reason for keeping unnecessary drugs out of homes.
“We’re trying to keep the drugs out of kids’ hands,” said Dawn Connerton, grant coordinator for the Bureau-Putnam County Health Department’s Community Partners Against Substance Abuse. “So many children are going into medicine cabinets and taking prescription and over the counter drugs and using them.”
Once collected the Spring Valley and Princeton police departments will incinerate the disposed drugs.
The P2D2 drop boxes are available at the Bureau County Sheriff’s Office in Princeton; Princeton Police Department; Spring Valley Police Department; Fawcett’s Pharmacy, Kirby Henning Pharmacy and Nelson Drug Store in Princeton; Granville Drug Store; Johnson’s Pharmacy and Thompson’s Drug Store in Spring Valley; and Perry Memorial and St. Margaret’s hospitals.
The Bureau-Putnam P2D2 program currently doesn’t accept syringes, but some La Salle County locations do.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Friday, August 27, 2010
Georgia P2D2 Disposal Box
It is hard to believe that one box can change so many lives. Great Job Georgia P2D2Team and Stephens County Anti Drug Coalition.
Eureka High School Student Billboard
The P2D2 team at Eureka High School, with the help of Steve Crawford of Roanoak Pharmacy and the amazing people at the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, developed two awesome billboards to help get the word out to their community. Great Job by all.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Prescription drug disposal program expanding in Lake Co.
By Paul Biasco | Daily Herald Staff
Published: 8/10/2010 11:52 AM | Updated: 8/10/2010 2:43 PM
When Paul Ritter's wife asked him what she should do with unused pharmaceuticals in the family medicine cabinet about two and a half years ago, he decided to pose that same question to his students.
What started as a simple question from a high school ecology teacher has turned into the nation's largest prescription drug disposal program, and one that is coming to Antioch, Lindenhurst and Lake Villa.
Ritter started the Prescription Pill and Drug Disposal Program to educate the public about the environmental dangers of improperly disposing drugs and teams up with local governments, pharmacies and schools to place the disposal boxes in communities.
"The long and the short is this program is very much an environmental program, a health program and a safety program," he said.
Locally, the move is headed by four students from Antioch and Lakes community high schools. Disposal boxes will be set up at the police stations in Antioch, Lindenhurst and Lake Villa as early as next month.
Ritter, who teaches at Pontiac Township High School, gives most of the credit to his students and students across the country who are starting local branches of the program.
"I love it when people say 'I can't believe students can get this kind of stuff done'," Ritter said.
The locations will accept any noncontrolled, nonhazardous medications, vitamins and supplements that will be collected and incinerated.
The program debuted in Lake County last summer, when students from Highland Park High School set up a disposal box at the Highland Park Police Department.
The main problem with improper disposal of drugs - down a drain or thrown away with the garbage - is they often find a way back into the water system, said Bob Schieck, president of the Antioch Lakes Organization, who has been working with Ritter.
"Our program started with the philosophy that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," Ritter said, explaining it is cheaper to run a proper disposal program than it is to deal with the results later.
Ritter stressed the program's hope to keep prescription drugs out of the wrong hands. He said one of the most tragic stories he has heard was from the mother of a girl who took an unknown pill at a party that turned out to be a common antibiotic. The girl was allergic and died that night.
"It's so tragic that people are playing Russian roulette with these pills," he said.
The program has disposed more than 120,000 pounds of prescription drugs and has spread to 11 states, with five others starting programs soon.
Ritter said the program was originally named the Pontiac Prescription Drug Disposal Program, but spread so quickly within two weeks they needed to drop "Pontiac" from the name.
"At age 40 I'm sitting here as a high school teacher looking at one of the greatest things I've ever been a part of," Ritter said.
Published: 8/10/2010 11:52 AM | Updated: 8/10/2010 2:43 PM
When Paul Ritter's wife asked him what she should do with unused pharmaceuticals in the family medicine cabinet about two and a half years ago, he decided to pose that same question to his students.
What started as a simple question from a high school ecology teacher has turned into the nation's largest prescription drug disposal program, and one that is coming to Antioch, Lindenhurst and Lake Villa.
Ritter started the Prescription Pill and Drug Disposal Program to educate the public about the environmental dangers of improperly disposing drugs and teams up with local governments, pharmacies and schools to place the disposal boxes in communities.
"The long and the short is this program is very much an environmental program, a health program and a safety program," he said.
Locally, the move is headed by four students from Antioch and Lakes community high schools. Disposal boxes will be set up at the police stations in Antioch, Lindenhurst and Lake Villa as early as next month.
Ritter, who teaches at Pontiac Township High School, gives most of the credit to his students and students across the country who are starting local branches of the program.
"I love it when people say 'I can't believe students can get this kind of stuff done'," Ritter said.
The locations will accept any noncontrolled, nonhazardous medications, vitamins and supplements that will be collected and incinerated.
The program debuted in Lake County last summer, when students from Highland Park High School set up a disposal box at the Highland Park Police Department.
The main problem with improper disposal of drugs - down a drain or thrown away with the garbage - is they often find a way back into the water system, said Bob Schieck, president of the Antioch Lakes Organization, who has been working with Ritter.
"Our program started with the philosophy that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," Ritter said, explaining it is cheaper to run a proper disposal program than it is to deal with the results later.
Ritter stressed the program's hope to keep prescription drugs out of the wrong hands. He said one of the most tragic stories he has heard was from the mother of a girl who took an unknown pill at a party that turned out to be a common antibiotic. The girl was allergic and died that night.
"It's so tragic that people are playing Russian roulette with these pills," he said.
The program has disposed more than 120,000 pounds of prescription drugs and has spread to 11 states, with five others starting programs soon.
Ritter said the program was originally named the Pontiac Prescription Drug Disposal Program, but spread so quickly within two weeks they needed to drop "Pontiac" from the name.
"At age 40 I'm sitting here as a high school teacher looking at one of the greatest things I've ever been a part of," Ritter said.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Healthy Water, Healthy You—AARP Highlights Prescription Drug Disposal Program
As part of its Create The Good effort, AARP Illinois is helping to spread the word about a program that helps to keep your drinking water safe while also helping to prevent the misuse and abuse of prescription drugs. Even better—the program could be operating in your community right now!
The Prescription Pill and Drug Disposal program (P2D2) was launched as a student initiative of Pontiac Township High School in 2007. P2D2 is a collaborative effort between pharmacies, police agencies, city officials, service groups, and high school students. The purpose of the program is to educate the public about the harm done to the environment due to the current prescription and non-prescription drug disposal practices and to provide communities with an alternative disposal method that ensures the quality of our water for future generations. P2D2 also aims to educate people about how to dispose of prescription drugs safely in order to reduce the risk of prescription drug misuse and abuse.
Typically, people are instructed to dispose of pharmaceuticals by throwing them in the trash or flushing them down the drain - but water treatment plants are not designed to remove pharmaceutical chemicals that make their way into our water system. One study by the U.S Geological Survey found measurable amounts of pharmaceutical drugs in 80% of waterways. In addition, nearly 7 million Americans abuse prescription drugs every year with over 8,500 deaths each year attributed to prescription drug abuse.
In 2009, the P2D2 program safely disposed of 95,000 pounds of pharmaceuticals. In communities that have the P2D2 program, individuals can drop off their unused, expired, or unwanted medications at various community drop-off sites. The drugs are then transported to an incineration site when they are disposed of properly. P2D2 is currently operational in over 100 communities in Illinois, Colorado, Florida, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Washington, and Wisconsin.
Pontiac Township High School and the P2D2 program have won numerous awards, including the Lt. Governor’s Environmental Hero Award, the Governor’s Green Youth Award, the National Go Green High School of the Year, and the Governor’s Pollution Prevention Award.
Earth Week and National Volunteer Week are April 18th-24th and AARP Illinois encourages you to help Create The Good and consider starting a P2D2 program in your own community!
For more information about the P2D2 program or to find a P2D2 site near you, visit www.p2d2program.org. You can also visit the site if you are interested in starting a P2D2 program in your community! For more information about Create The Good, visit createthegood.org.
The Prescription Pill and Drug Disposal program (P2D2) was launched as a student initiative of Pontiac Township High School in 2007. P2D2 is a collaborative effort between pharmacies, police agencies, city officials, service groups, and high school students. The purpose of the program is to educate the public about the harm done to the environment due to the current prescription and non-prescription drug disposal practices and to provide communities with an alternative disposal method that ensures the quality of our water for future generations. P2D2 also aims to educate people about how to dispose of prescription drugs safely in order to reduce the risk of prescription drug misuse and abuse.
Typically, people are instructed to dispose of pharmaceuticals by throwing them in the trash or flushing them down the drain - but water treatment plants are not designed to remove pharmaceutical chemicals that make their way into our water system. One study by the U.S Geological Survey found measurable amounts of pharmaceutical drugs in 80% of waterways. In addition, nearly 7 million Americans abuse prescription drugs every year with over 8,500 deaths each year attributed to prescription drug abuse.
In 2009, the P2D2 program safely disposed of 95,000 pounds of pharmaceuticals. In communities that have the P2D2 program, individuals can drop off their unused, expired, or unwanted medications at various community drop-off sites. The drugs are then transported to an incineration site when they are disposed of properly. P2D2 is currently operational in over 100 communities in Illinois, Colorado, Florida, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Washington, and Wisconsin.
Pontiac Township High School and the P2D2 program have won numerous awards, including the Lt. Governor’s Environmental Hero Award, the Governor’s Green Youth Award, the National Go Green High School of the Year, and the Governor’s Pollution Prevention Award.
Earth Week and National Volunteer Week are April 18th-24th and AARP Illinois encourages you to help Create The Good and consider starting a P2D2 program in your own community!
For more information about the P2D2 program or to find a P2D2 site near you, visit www.p2d2program.org. You can also visit the site if you are interested in starting a P2D2 program in your community! For more information about Create The Good, visit createthegood.org.
Stephens Co. Anti-Drug Coalition Starting Prescription Drug Disposal Program
07/27/2010
A conference designed to help start a new drug disposal program in Stephens County continues today.
The Stephens County Anti-Drug Coalition is hosting the second day of the P2D2 Drug Disposal Conference at the Pointe Church in Eastanollee. The conference began Monday.
Stephens County Anti-Drug Coalition Director Chuck Lewis said the conference is designed to serve as a kick-off to implementing the P2D2, or Prescription Pill and Drug Disposal, Program.
“We have Paul Ritter here from Pontiac, Illinois,” said Lewis. “He is a schoolteacher and he and his students started a prescription drug disposal program and they are in about 13 states and want to initiate it in Georgia through us, the Anti-Drug Coalition.”
Ritter said the program started with the simple question of asking where do unused prescription drugs go.
After finding out that trace amounts have gotten into water supplies in some areas of the country and that also some end up in the hands of those who misuse and abuse them, Ritter says he and his students got the program started.
According to Ritter, the program can work in a variety of ways.
“You can have a drug disposal box at the police department,” said Ritter. “You can also work with pharmacists, where the pharmacists collect non-controlled substances while police take back controlled substances. You can have a mail-back system too where you can mail it back through the Postal Service and we have boxes set up for that as well.”
Ritter said the program has multiple benefits.
“Water is our most precious resource and when we take care of it, it will be renewable forever, but when it dumped down the toilet or into the landfill, it can leach into our water supply,” he added. “Then, you have the issue of misuse and abuse of pharmaceuticals.”
According to organizers, Monday served as an introduction to the program, while today’s work at the conference will focus on implementation.
Ritter said he just wants to serve as a guide for getting it up and running.
“Stephens County has already taken the initiative,” he said. “They got it together before I got here, so while we are helping to spread the word, Stephens County is ready to rock and roll.”
Ritter said he is excited to be a part of the program in Stephens County.
So is Lewis. He said that this conference will hopefully serve as a kick-start to their efforts.
“We get enough feedback, then we will have brainstorming to implement it here and beyond,” said Lewis. “We want to implement it all throughout Georgia.”
Lewis said the Anti-Drug Coalition hopes to have the program up and running as soon as possible.
A conference designed to help start a new drug disposal program in Stephens County continues today.
The Stephens County Anti-Drug Coalition is hosting the second day of the P2D2 Drug Disposal Conference at the Pointe Church in Eastanollee. The conference began Monday.
Stephens County Anti-Drug Coalition Director Chuck Lewis said the conference is designed to serve as a kick-off to implementing the P2D2, or Prescription Pill and Drug Disposal, Program.
“We have Paul Ritter here from Pontiac, Illinois,” said Lewis. “He is a schoolteacher and he and his students started a prescription drug disposal program and they are in about 13 states and want to initiate it in Georgia through us, the Anti-Drug Coalition.”
Ritter said the program started with the simple question of asking where do unused prescription drugs go.
After finding out that trace amounts have gotten into water supplies in some areas of the country and that also some end up in the hands of those who misuse and abuse them, Ritter says he and his students got the program started.
According to Ritter, the program can work in a variety of ways.
“You can have a drug disposal box at the police department,” said Ritter. “You can also work with pharmacists, where the pharmacists collect non-controlled substances while police take back controlled substances. You can have a mail-back system too where you can mail it back through the Postal Service and we have boxes set up for that as well.”
Ritter said the program has multiple benefits.
“Water is our most precious resource and when we take care of it, it will be renewable forever, but when it dumped down the toilet or into the landfill, it can leach into our water supply,” he added. “Then, you have the issue of misuse and abuse of pharmaceuticals.”
According to organizers, Monday served as an introduction to the program, while today’s work at the conference will focus on implementation.
Ritter said he just wants to serve as a guide for getting it up and running.
“Stephens County has already taken the initiative,” he said. “They got it together before I got here, so while we are helping to spread the word, Stephens County is ready to rock and roll.”
Ritter said he is excited to be a part of the program in Stephens County.
So is Lewis. He said that this conference will hopefully serve as a kick-start to their efforts.
“We get enough feedback, then we will have brainstorming to implement it here and beyond,” said Lewis. “We want to implement it all throughout Georgia.”
Lewis said the Anti-Drug Coalition hopes to have the program up and running as soon as possible.
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