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.
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