Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Local drug disposal program goes international

Buy Now CARLOS T. MIRANDA Hannah Brozenec, then 8, blows bubbles at Deann Moran dressed in a Pill Bottle Phil costume on June 28, 2008, at a Prescription Pill and Drug Disposal Program-P2D2 Green Day at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington. It was such P2D2 efforts that have won the program national and international recognition and a chance for an award in Sweden. (Pantagraph file photo/CARLOS T. MIRANDA) 17 hours ago • By Lenore Sobota | lsobota@pantagraph.com (0) Comments PONTIAC — When science teacher Paul Ritter and his Pontiac Township High School students started a program for proper drug disposal about five years ago, they didn’t know it would lead to similar programs across the state and the country. Now, it is leading to an international competition in Sweden. The Prescription Pill and Drug Disposal program — P2D2 — is a finalist in the Volvo Adventure global environmental competition for youth, which is in partnership with the U.N. Environment Program. Ritter and four Pontiac-area teens along with a teacher and student from Reedsburg, Wis., who are also involved in the national P2D2 program, will travel to Goteborg, Sweden, in June. In addition to the expenses-paid trip and opportunity to spread the word about their program, they will be competing for a top prize of $10,000. Ritter didn’t know the program had been nominated for the award by people in Wisconsin until he received a call telling him P2D2 is among 12 finalists. Other finalists are from Brazil, China, Croatia, Egypt, Fiji, Isle of Man, Macedonia, Paraguay, Russia, Tanzania and Turkey. Students involved need to be ages 13 to 16. Team members going to Sweden are Madison Pfaff, Samantha Quinn, and Bailee Ritter — all PTHS students — and Taylor Ritter, a seventh-grader at Pontiac Junior High School. Quinn, a freshman, said, “The most exciting thing is we get to go and talk to other people and get the program out to the world.” Likewise, Paul Ritter’s daughter, Bailee, a freshman, hopes people will get the message that “it’s so easy for people to get involved. … Anyone can do it.” Ritter said everything is student-driven and it involves not only students in his science classes but those in English, art, music and theater classes. “It’s kids working with kids to make a difference,” Ritter said. “I tend to just be the chief cheerleader.” Having students come and go hasn’t seemed to slow the program. PTHS Principal Jon Kilgore said, “Between Mr. Ritter’s leadership and the environmental perspective of our students, the torch gets passed.”

Youth Service Governor's Volunteer Service Award

On April 19, 2012, Mary Perkins received the Youth Service Governor's Volunteer Service Award. The award recognizes individual volunteers for their community service in the State of Illinois. Mary is a junior at Effingham High School, and has been involved in 4-H for nine years.� Along with John Loy, Effingham County Chief Deputy, Michelle Loy, Effingham County 4-H Ambassador's leader, and fellow 4-H Ambassadors, Mary started the P2D2 program for the Effingham community. P2D2 stands for Prescription Pill and Drug Disposal, which is a national program that properly disposes of expired and unwanted pharmaceuticals. The P2D2 program helps prevent medications from being used inappropriately within households and also from harming the environment. Mary has volunteered numerous hours to start and sustain the P2D2 program in Effingham County. Congratulations Mary! Posted by Laura Kammin at 1:55 PM | | Categories: Collection Programs, For Teachers, In the News | Leave a comment

Making a difference Perkins earns state award for P2D2 program

April 25, 2012 Cathy Thoele Effingham Daily News EFFINGHAM — Effingham High School student Mary Perkins was among two dozen volunteers from around the state to win a Governor’s Volunteer Service Award for her work in setting up a drug prescription disposal program in Effingham County. She couldn’t be more thrilled or surprised. “I didn’t even know about the nomination,” she said. The P2D2 program began last summer in partnership with Effingham County Sheriff’s Department. It is designed to encourage proper disposal of unused prescriptions and prevent them from being flushed into the water supply. The risk has increased with the use of prescription drugs increase. United States Geological Survey studies have found traces of painkillers, estrogen, antidepressants, blood pressure medicines and others found in water samples from 30 states. The studies have linked hormone exposure to reproductive defects in fish, and environmental exposure to antibiotics to the development of drug-resistant germs. The drugs collected are instead incinerated and used as an alternative energy source. Perkins, an Effingham County Youth Ambassadors member, spearheaded a committee to implement the program after a local resident approached them about the program. The group began by writing a grant to cover the cost of purchasing secure metal boxes to serve as collection points for the medication. Each box costs more than $500, and recycling the medication can cost anywhere from $700 to $1,000. “It took nearly a year to get up and running,” said area University of Illinois Extension 4-H Community Coordinator Patti Logan, who nominated the 16-year-old for the award. “It’s great to see how it unfolded.” Now the program is in full swing, Perkins coordinates fellow ambassadors to sort through the medication every two to three weeks, with some parents chipping in. “It’s a team effort,” she said. Logan said the program keeps Perkins busy. “There’s a lot of work that goes into it,” she said. That work also includes finding additional funding for the program as it grows. “I’m about to start on a grant application right now,” said Perkins Tuesday. With 4-H programs focused on community service, the nearly decade-long member is used to volunteering. “If someone asks me, I won’t turn them down,” she said. Perkins was surprised at how much the program has grown. “When I was asked to be in charge, I thought it would be small,” she said. “I didn’t know it would grow into something this big.” Public response to the program has been overwhelming, with 750 pounds of unused medication being collected. “We definitely average one 25- to 30-pound garbage bag full a week, sometimes two,” said Effingham County Chief Deputy John Loy. The program not only helps keep the unused medication out of the water supply, but out of the hands of youth as well. “‘Skittle parties’ were becoming a trend in our community,” said Logan. “At these parties, youth would dump any unused prescription medication they could find in a bowl, and then consume a handful of pills with alcohol.” Residents can drop off expired prescription medications or over-the-counter drugs. The sheriff’s department goes one step further by providing a way to dispose of questionable or illegal drugs and paraphernalia. “If a parent finds something they don’t want to deal with, they can call us and we’ll pick up the drugs on a one-time basis with no questions asked,” said Loy. The drop boxes are located at most pharmacies in the area, as well as Effingham County Government Center, Effingham County Office Building, Teutopolis Village Hall, Altamont Municipal Building and Bonutti Clinic. Perkins is thrilled the program has caught on. “I think it’s awesome people are still bringing it in,” she said.

County leading charge to preserve planet 4-19-12

Pontiac, Ill. - For Pontiac Township High School science teacher Paul Ritter, Earth Day, Sunday, is one of the greatest days of the year. Historically, it is a day meant to increase awareness and appreciation of the Earth's natural environment. However, Ritter believes Livingston County has been leading the charge in preserving the planet for years. Livingston County now has: A recycling drop-off; a battery disposal program, which began in Pontiac and has been continued in Fairbury and Dwight; the Livingston County Environmental Association cleaning up the environment with its river clean up program and other endeavors; a storm sewer stencil project, keeping garbage out of the sewers; people in Humiston Woods working hard to preserve the natural habitat within the grounds; and a common understanding in the county to not throw trash away if it can be recycled. “Livingston County is showing what it means to be great stewards of our world and I can’t be more proud to be a resident. This is my home and as an environmentalist I look at the things that are going on and all I can say is, ‘Wow.’” This year, Ritter said Earth Day is as exciting as it’s ever been. Increased fuel prices have caused people to pay attention to how much gas they use and many car manufacturers across the board have been affected in a positive way. Manufacturers are reporting their best quarterly sales since 2008 due to people wanting to trade in their gas-guzzlers. “You look at what is happening with the cars and they are getting better gas mileage now,” said Ritter. “That is part of people wanting to do the right thing, but also economically people need to get more efficient. I think these are great examples of things that are going on which really do add to the current state of the environment and the current state of our communities. I would like to see us continue to get better and I think the whole thing will continue to evolve and technology will allow us to do that.” Another effort that people are starting to take more seriously these days is in recycling. Livingston County now has recycling systems in places where they didn’t exist before. Not only are they popping up in schools, but also in the businesses. People want to make sure options for recycling are available. “A lot of times we talk about the three Rs, reduce, re-use and recycle,” said Ritter. “I think we’ve even gotten one better here at the high school. We’ve got the fourth “R” too, which is re-think. We are re-thinking some of our decisions.” A lot of businesses are starting to look at standard operating procedures to see where things could be done more cost effectively. Some wonder if their desire is truly environmentally driven and others are sure it is because businesses want to feel good monetarily. Ritter believes it’s a little of both. He believes people see monetary returns as a very positive reason to recycle. However, he said there is also a good feeling people get from knowing what they are doing in their business is also giving back to the planet. “Look at Pontiac Correctional Center, even the prison is recycling,” said Ritter. “A couple years ago, the prison said they wanted to be a part of recycling, so we did a project with the prison to look at their garbage system and how we could improve it and now the inmates are recycling.” A quote Ritter often uses to explain his views on the environment comes from a Native American proverb that says, “we do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.” To Ritter, this quote means that if people learn how to be sustainable and conserve the resources and learn to be good stewards, the world will be preserved for future generations. “It also reminds me of another quote by Thomas Fuller,” said Ritter. “In 1732 he said, ‘We will never know the worth of water until the well is dry.’ I think people are realizing, we need to be mindful of what we do.” The next generation of children are learning about and celebrating Earth Day at a young age. Kindergarten students in Rita Mackinson’s class at St. Mary’s Grade School planted both Marigold and Soybean seeds in Styrofoam cups as an example of steps they can take to help beautify and enhance the world they live in. After the kids colored their cups, they were taken to a potting station where they used fresh soil to fill their cups, planted seeds in the soil and then topped the cup off with a little bit more soil before setting them by the windowsill to get some sun. People often ask Ritter if his love for recycling gives him a negative view towards the ADS Livingston Landfill. He explained that in his opinion, Allied Waste have been given a task and there will always be garbage. He also said that he has worked closely with them in the past and they are doing their best. “I think they do as good a job as they can do,” said Ritter. “Obviously, I would like to live in a world where they would not have as much waste, but when resources start to get a little limited, maybe they will start mining those landfills for resources. If they know where the material is at and it’s valuable enough, I think it could happen. Hopefully one day we will become so efficient that we have zero waste.” For PTHS freshman Hannah Dunlap, recycling is so commonplace for her, she can’t imagine a time when people didn’t recycle. “It’s good to recycle,” said Dunlap. “It’s important to me that there isn’t a bunch of garbage lying around and that our resources are still here for the next generation.” To people looking to make a difference, Ritter offered that even the littlest thing can be a step towards a cleaner Earth. Even something as simple as unplugging unneeded appliances or turning the light switch off when natural sunlight is available, the little things mount up. “Everybody has the potential to be a part of this,” said Ritter. “We have one planet and one Earth.”

Ex-QB Leaf nabbed in Montana 4-2-12

April 2, 2012 The Associated Press Former NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf was arrested again Monday, just days after he posted bail on similar charges that he burglarized a home and stole prescription drugs, authorities said. Leaf was first arrested on Friday after police found oxycodone pills in his golf bag that an acquaintance later said Leaf stole from his home. Then early Monday, three days after posting a $76,000 bond, he was arrested again on accusations that he broke into another home outside Great Falls, Central Montana Drug Task Force Commander Chris Hickman said. The owners walked into the home Sunday afternoon to find a “tall man with an athletic build” inside, Hickman said. The man told the owners he had the wrong address and left. The owners later discovered three bottles of prescription medication missing and phoned police. After describing his truck, his clothes and his “shiny black loafers,” they picked Leaf out of a photo lineup. A search of Leaf’s home turned up 89 hydrocodone pills loose in the pocket of a bathrobe. Authorities do not believe those were the same pills that were taken from the burgled home, Hickman said. “We don’t know if he disposed of them or if he has a hiding place where he stores these things,” Hickman said.

What’s in your medicine cabinet?

If yours is like those in most households, you may have medicines that expired in the previous millennium, with pills, poultices, elixirs, solutions, snake oil, and other antiquarian finds that would be more appropriate to a medical museum than a medical cabinet. With the increased availability of cheap over-the-counter drugs, along with what is called the most expensive instrument in the field of medicine—i.e., the prescription pad—the rising tide of unused and expired medications threatens to overwhelm us. And in this case, “tide” has a double meaning, with a significant portion of medicines ending up in our water supply—and, eventually, in the food chain. This could have downstream effects on human health and has already been shown to impact fish and other wildlife. A related concern is diversion of unused drugs into the wrong hands. Many youths no longer need to find a dealer of drugs—they can just open the medicine cabinet in their own house. Aside from abuse, misuse of meds is a concern as well. Well-meaning parents may “prescribe” some unused antibiotics from a previous bout with the flu to their teen, unaware of the possible side effects and interactions that may occur. Finally, small children or pets may gain access to and become poisoned by drugs that are not stored securely. Breaking this cycle of medication mayhem requires thinking (and acting) both locally and globally. Medical assistants and other health professionals can play a key role by educating patients about proper drug disposal. They should also underscore proper use of drugs (for example, finishing all pills in a course of antibiotics) as well as the hazards of “repurposing” one’s prescriptions among friends and family. Further, they can work on the front end to limit overprescribing and thereby reduce the nation’s unwanted cornucopia of medications. Overkill, or overpill? The scope of the problem A few facts underscore the extent of the drug disposal problem the nation faces. From 1970 to 2010, spending on prescription drugs in the United States increased from $5.5 billion to nearly $260 billion. This translates into more than four billion prescriptions filled in the U.S. each year, says Philip P. Burgess, RPh, DPh, MBA, chair of the Illinois State Board of Pharmacy. “It has been estimated that as much as 35 percent of the dispensed medication goes unused,” Burgess adds. “This results in over 200 million pounds of pharmaceuticals, which can adversely affect the environment if disposed of improperly.” A 2008 investigation by the Associated Press found a veritable witch’s brew of pharmaceuticals in the nation’s drinking water, including “antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones.” “Pharmaceuticals and endocrine disruptors are being detected in drinking water supplies in minute amounts—parts per billion and parts per trillion—amounts too small to be removed at wastewater treatments plants. While detection does not equal risk, some studies are beginning to show detrimental effects on aquatic life,” says Debra Shore, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District in Chicago, one of the world’s largest wastewater treatment agencies. For example, researchers have found that drugs in our waterways are causing the development of “intersex” fish, which exhibit both male and female characteristics. Scientists have also charted “changes in behavior, reproduction, and growth in frogs, mussels, shrimp, and other aquatic animals,” leading to concerns of “the decline of entire populations through decreased reproduction and increased predation,” says Laura Kammin, Pollution Prevention Program Specialist at Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, located in the University of Illinois in Chicago. At the same time, while it is true that pharmaceuticals in the environment could lead to “grave consequences” for wildlife, “comparing environmental impacts to those caused by misuse or abuse would be comparing apples to oranges,” Kammin says. “Misuse and abuse directly impacts human health and safety. There is an immediate concern in those cases because of the danger of overdose and also the risk of addiction and all the health and societal problems that can cause. The environmental damage is not seen immediately.” Indeed, one immediate danger is to young children and pets, who can be the victims of nondisposal or inadequate disposal of medications. Between 2001 and 2008, for example, more than 430,000 children five years or younger were seen in emergency departments due to self-ingestion of prescription and OTC medications; this led to 41,000 admissions, 18,000 injuries, and 66 deaths. And earlier this year, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Animal Poison Control Center reported that, for the fourth straight year, human prescription medications topped their list of pet toxins, with OTC human medications ranked third. The other direct impacts on human health are drug misuse and diversion for illicit purposes (e.g., abuse). In fact, according to data from the U.S. Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), prescription drugs are the second most abused drugs in the U.S., trailing only marijuana and far ahead of cocaine, heroin, LSD and other equally notorious substances. In addition, SAMSHA data show that treatment admissions for prescription drug abuse increased 430 percent in 10 years, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that “the death toll from overdoses of prescription painkillers has more than tripled in the past decade.” Opioids (including Vicodin and OxyContin) and benzodiazepines (such as Vanax and Valium) are particularly seductive and are highly addictive, and are contributing in large part to the rise in unintentional overdose deaths. In short, “Generation Rx” is taking advantage of the easy access of prescription drugs in the home. “‘Pharm parties’ are an alarming and growing phenomenon among teens,” Burgess says. “After raiding their parents’ or grandparents’ medicine cabinets, the kids will pop random pills along with consuming alcohol.” Many teens are also under the mistaken impression that prescription drugs are somehow “safer” than street drugs. It’s not just the nation’s youth that are at risk, however: “Senior citizens’ homes are notorious for the sharing of medications among the residents,” adds Burgess. “This results in significant increases in drug interactions and negative side effects for these patients.” And the death earlier this year of singer Whitney Houston has brought renewed attention to the vulnerability of women to prescription drug abuse. Abuse is a daunting concern—and misuse is a serious issue as well. “People sometimes share their medications with friends or relatives, not realizing what a dangerous practice that can be,” Kammin says. “A doctor prescribes medication to a patient based on their medical history, calculating the proper dosage based on factors such as age and weight. Medications should never be shared. The potential for adverse reactions, or even death, is too great a risk.” Disposing of the problem: One man’s story So it’s readily apparent that the nation has a drug problem. But how do we solve it? And what role can proper disposal of unused medications play in the solution? Paul Ritter is a high school science teacher in Pontiac, Ill—not coincidentally, home of the second largest landfill in the U.S. One day in 2007, his wife asked how she should dispose of some old medications in their home. Unsure of the answer, Ritter posed it to the students in his ecology class, and the rest is history. The students investigated the issue and, alarmed at their findings, began to develop a grassroots media and advocacy campaign to draw attention to the problem. Their work led Illinois, in 2011, to become the first state to pass legislation to pay for pharmaceutical disposal through a $20 fine for specified drug-related offenses. Ritter is seeking to expand this work to other states, in his role as director of the National Prescription Pill and Drug Disposal Program, or “P2D2,” as it’s known. This collaborative effort between communities, pharmacies, police departments, hospitals, city officials, and students is intended to raise awareness of the dangers of inadequate drug disposal, including misuse and abuse as well as the environmental impacts. Ritter is a passionate advocate of the cause of proper pharmaceutical disposal. Although he is recipient of the 2011-2012 National Environmental Science Teacher of the Year, he is quick to give credit to his students for their work with P2D2. “It’s one of the greatest and humbling things I’ve ever been a part of,” he says. “When you inspire students to be agents of change, you can’t hold them back.” Further, his initial interest in this issue has expanded beyond a strictly environmental perspective. During an out-of-town school field trip to an aquarium, one of his students abused opioids and became severely impaired. That unfortunate incident “solidified what we were doing,” he says. “We need to really make sure that we take care of this. “This is our moral obligation to do so,” adds Ritter. “So I don’t have another parent who calls me to say that their child is dead. I look into the eyes of my children and my students, and I think that I have to do everything humanly possible to solve this.” “There oughta be a law” (or is there?) “We need to make it simple and easy for people to dispose of medicines safely and right now we don’t.” – Debra Shore. Currently, 18 other states have developed P2D2 programs, and Colorado, Florida, and Mississippi have pending legislation similar to that enacted in Illinois. This begs the question—what about a nationwide solution (e.g., from the feds)? In 2010, President Obama signed into law the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act, to allow consumers to dispose of controlled substances more easily and help limit drug diversion. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will soon be issuing guidelines to implement this act, notes Burgess. The law is intended to “[address] a longstanding issue where patients were not allowed to return drugs to a DEA registrant because such a return would be outside the ‘closed chain of distribution’ established by the Controlled Substances Act.” More recently, the Pharmaceutical Stewardship Act of 2011, introduced to the Congress in last September by Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY), “would set up a nonprofit corporation financed by pharmaceutical producers who would be responsible for establishing comprehensive drug take-back programs in every state.” Currently in committee in the House, the proposed legislation has received backing from such organizations as the American Medical Association, American Rivers, and Natural Resources Defense Council. The popularity of (and the need for) drug take-back programs is indeed growing—but is take-back a keeper? A recent study of 148 such programs in 21 states and several countries found limited data to suggest that the programs help prevent prescription drug abuse. Only those programs that collect controlled substances have any impact on substance abuse prevention, the study notes. (It is important to add that the report does not analyze the potential environmental benefits of take-back programs.) Some take-back programs operate via mail-back envelopes, which can be especially convenient for people living in remote locations. For example, 100 tons of unwanted medications have been incinerated in an environmentally conscious manner through a nationwide mail-back program of Sharps Compliance, says Burgess. Meanwhile, Maine has a successful EPA-funded pilot program using free mailers, notes Kammin; it is the only mail-back program in the nation that can legally accept controlled substances. The 3 Rs of drug disposal As the recycling part of the equation, take-back programs are vital to any long-term solution, but a better approach might be to start with the first of the three Rs of the environment—“reduce.” Ritter believes this is critical. “We have responsibility to not overprescribe,” he says. “We need to be wary of the amounts put forward [into the system]”—a significant challenge given the prevalence of “tele-docs,” doctor-shopping, and pill mills. Whatever the source, a significant amount of prescribed medications are not being finished by patients. A study in New Zealand found that the majority of medications returned to community pharmacies had 75 percent of the original dispensed amount. One key is to change health professions education to ensure that students and practitioners are cognizant of the systemic side effects of overprescribing, and to look beyond an individual patient to see the larger population health consequences. “Some states have looked at mandating this type of educational program as part of a continuing education requirement for physicians and dentists in order to renew their licenses,” notes Burgess. “Prescribing excess quantities of medications is definitely contributing to the seriousness of this problem and has an easy resolution.” Adds Kammin, “Physicians should be mindful of the quantity of medication prescribed. Try a sample first to see if it will work for the patient. Do not unnecessarily push samples provided by pharmaceutical reps. Be aware of the consequences of having pharmaceuticals present in the environment. And educate patients on how they can responsibly dispose of any unused medications.” Stephanie Bell, CMA, medical assisting instructor/program manager at Illinois School of Health Careers in Chicago, believes that today’s medical providers are “very active in educating their patients” through preventive care, health awareness screenings, weight loss and pain management programs, and other interventions, thereby lessening the need for writing prescriptions. For the second R, “reuse,” many unexpired, perfectly good medications often go to waste. Taking advantage of this possibility poses some logistical challenges, to be sure. Burgess says that reuse is possible “only if the medication has been kept in a totally controlled environment to ensure no contamination or improper storage.” An analysis from England found that medications returned to pharmacies did not expire for another 17 months and that one-quarter of the medications could be reused. As for the third R—“recycle”—Ritter believes that “rethink” might be a better term. “Medication is a quality of life thing, and vital to health of so many, so I’m not a pharma basher by any means. But we need to be mindful not only of what we do with it but how we dispose of it. Then we can make good choices.” Disposal 101: What to tell patients Here are some guidelines to share with patients seeking advice on how to handle and dispose of expired medications, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The safest and most effective way to dispose of old medications is through a take-back program, which may be offered through household garbage or recycling services, local pharmacies, or police departments. If no such program is available, people should: • Mix medicines (do not crush tablets or capsules) with an unpalatable substance such as kitty litter or used coffee grounds • Place the mixture in a container such as a sealed plastic bag; and • Throw the container in your household trash Flushing? If, and only if . . . Once considered the best method of disposal, flushing unused drugs down the toilet “should be absolutely discouraged,” says Burgess. “Unfortunately, because the public has become much more aware of not flushing drugs down the toilet, it has exacerbated the problem by drugs staying in the medicine chests for years making them readily available for pilferage.” For a certain select list of medications, however, the FDA recommends disposal via flushing if they cannot be disposed of via a take-back program. These drugs “may be especially harmful and, in some cases, fatal in a single dose if they are used by someone other than the person the medicine was prescribed for,” says Shelly Burgess, Public Affairs Specialist at the FDA. “Any potential risk to people and the environment from flushing this small, select group of medicines is outweighed by the real possibility of life-threatening risks from accidental ingestion.” A list of these medications is available at http://1.usa.gov/192HN0. What is your role? Medical assistants can help address drug disposal in many different ways. “In the office setting, it is the responsibility of the medical assistant to monitor the sample closet for expired medications and also to dispose of them according to the office policy,” says Bell. This can help reduce the chances of drug diversion. When working with patients, “medical assistants could help by directing people to local medicine collection programs or providing tips on disposal via the trash if collection programs are not available in their area. They could also help educate people on the dangers of sharing medications . . . [and] make doctors aware of this issue.” Also critical are patient education and follow up on proper use of drugs and adherence to prescribed regimens. At a larger, community-wide level, says Ritter, “medical assistants can play a vital role to get patients to set up community [take-back] programs of their own, and [by] working with students to help them be the leaders of change.” Sidebar: Links for more information Safe Medicine Disposal for Maine Program http://www.safemeddisposal.com http://www.disposemymeds.org/ National Community Pharmacists Association National Prescription Pill and Drug Disposal Program, or “P2D2,” (www.p2d2program.org Take Back Your Meds http://www.takebackyourmeds.org Disposal of Unwanted Medicines toolkit http://www.iisgcp.org/gros/meddisposal.html Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products as Pollutants (PPCPs) http://www.epa.gov/ppcp/

Illinois American Water to Receive American Water Works Association's 2011 Communication Achievement Award

February 14, 2012 Karen Cotton 309.566.4126 309.566.4126 Illinois American Water to Receive American Water Works Association's 2011 Communication Achievement Award National award to be presented for community pharmaceutical disposal outreach programs Belleville, Ill. (February 14, 2012) - Illinois American Water announced today that the company has been selected by the American Water Works Association (AWWA) to receive the 2011 Communications Achievement Award for the company's outreach regarding proper pharmaceutical disposal. The award recognizes AWWA member organizations for fostering and supporting the development of public outreach programs and integrating public affairs as a core element of utility planning and management. According to Deirdre Mueller, Public Affairs Manager for AWWA, "Many accomplished individuals and organizations were considered and the selection process was rigorous. AWWA's Public Affairs Council selection committee was very impressed by the work Illinois American Water completed in 2011." Founded in 1881, AWWA is an international nonprofit educational association dedicated to safe water and the authoritative resource for knowledge, information, and advocacy for improving the quality and supply of water in North America and beyond. Illinois American Water created and launched a public awareness campaign to educate the public about proper pharmaceutical disposal. Goals of the program include increasing awareness and reducing pharmaceuticals in water through the creation of community pharmaceutical disposal programs. Through these community programs supported by Illinois American Water, residents are encouraged to drop off their unwanted medications so they can be incinerated, which is the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) recommended approach for pharmaceutical disposal. Flushing medications down the toilet or the drain as well as throwing them in the trash are discouraged. "Permanent pharmaceutical disposal programs provide long-term protection of our water sources by ensuring proper disposal of unwanted medications," said Karla Olson Teasley, Illinois American Water President. Through partnership and collaboration with local pharmacies, police departments and government officials, Illinois American Water has implemented and supported 25 pharmaceutical disposal programs across the state including sites in Alton, Bartonville, Belleville, Caseyville, Champaign, Chicago (two sites), Chillicothe, Collinsville, Fairmont, Maryville, Mt. Vernon, O'Fallon, Orland Hills, Pekin, Peoria (three sites), Peoria Heights, Pontiac, South Beloit, Sterling, Streator, Urbana and Waterloo. The pharmaceutical disposal programs were created through a model program developed by Pontiac Township High School students and their teacher Paul Ritter. The program, Prescription Pill and Drug Disposal Program (P2D2), is recognized by Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, the Illinois EPA and the Department of Natural Resources as a model for all pharmaceutical disposal programs. Through Illinois American Water's and P2D2's efforts, thousands of pounds of unwanted medications have been properly disposed. AWWA's Communications Achievement Award will be presented to Illinois American Water during AWWA's national conference on Monday, June 11, 2012 in Dallas, TX. Past recipients include San Francisco (Calif.) Public Utility Commission Water Quality Div., Metro Vancouver (B.C.), City of San Diego (Calif.) Public Utilities Department and Denver (Colo.) Water. - MORE - PRESS RELEASE www.amwater.com Illinois American Water to Receive American Water Works Association's 2011 Communication Achievement Award About Illinois American Water Illinois American Water, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to more than 1.2 million people. American Water also operates a customer service center in Alton and a quality control and research laboratory in Belleville. Founded in 1886, American Water is the largest publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company. With headquarters in Voorhees, N.J., the company employs more than 7,000 dedicated professionals who provide drinking water, wastewater and other related services to approximately 15 million people in more than 30 states, as well as parts of Canada. More information can be found by visiting www.amwater.com. ### PRESS RELEASE www.amwater.com

Proper disposal

Pharmacist Tara Hennington of Gillis Drugs in McComb is urging proper and safe disposal of old and unused prescription drugs. By Randy Hammons, Enterprise-Journal | 0 comments A customer’s simple question to a local pharmacist some two years ago was the impetus of legislation soon to be presented in the Mississippi Legislature. Rep. Sam Mims V, R-McComb, is working on a bill that would set up prescription drug collection sites at local law enforcement offices, allowing people to drop off their expired prescription medications, no questions asked. The drugs would then be transported to the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics office in Jackson, where they would be incinerated. “Two years ago this month, a customer asked me a simple question as to what they should do with their unused prescription drugs. The only answer I could give her was to flush the drugs or throw them away,” recalls Gillis Drugs pharmacist Tara Hennington recalled. “As a health care provider, I wasn’t satisfied with that answer,” she said. “I then found a science teacher in Pontiac, Ill., by the name of Paul Ritter. He and his students founded the Prescription Pill and Drug Disposal program (P2D2).” Hennington said McComb Police Deputy Chief Scott McKenzie and Tim Vanderslice, commander of the Southwest Mississippi Narcotics Enforcement Unit, have helped local citizens dispose of their prescription drugs safely. “We’ve been able to participate in drug take-back days as a means of safe disposal of the medications,” Hennington said. “The only problem was the pickups were few and far between. It was once every six months. It was a temporary fix until something came about long-term.” But Hennington said that was only the beginning of the process. She said more awareness of the problem was necessary. As a result, Parklane Academy teacher Randy Martin soon joined the effort. “Randy helped get a group of students together who had a passion to bring about awareness for the problem,” Hennington said. “They are the voice of the program. When they talk, people tend to listen. We’re trying to educate our citizens that improper disposal of prescription medications contaminates our water and soil and they can get into the wrong hands. We want to prevent accidental overdoses.” Hennington said some 19 states have P2D2 programs, but only two states have passed legislation. Hennington found an staunch ally in Mims, who is scheduled to visit Parklane Tuesday night at 6 and meet with students about the problem. Students also plan to visit the State Capitol in Jackson on Wednesday and lobby lawmakers. “The bill has been drafted. Lawmakers will assign the bill a number and what committee it’s going to,” Mims said on Friday. “This legislation will allow the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics to pick up medications people have. Water treatments are not the best place to send these prescription drugs,” Mims said. He noted that the legislation also will be a teaching tool for students. “The bigger point in what Randy and Tara are doing is that they are involving young people throughout Pike County,” Mims said. “They’re showing them the political process. I’ll speak to them at the Capitol on Wednesday to explain the legislation and the problems of substance drug abuse. I believe anytime we can get young people involved and show them how bills go through committee, it’s a good thing.”

Water safer with disposal effort

Thursday, December 15, 2011 Share With Friend Print Article By Shannon Crawley-Serpette ntputnam@newstrib.com Dawn Conerton (left), project coordinator for Community Partners Against Substance Abuse and pharmacist Toni Lawley collect drugs at a P2D2 drop box at the Putnam County Sheriffs Department in Hennepin. The drugs collected by CPASA are incinerated so they do not end up in water sources. NewsTribune photo/Shannon Crawley-Serpette PRINCETON — Thanks to a team effort, a large number of pharmaceutical drugs won’t end up in water sources in Bureau and Putnam counties. The journey to cleaner water began several years ago when Scott Wallis, Princeton waste water superintendent, heard a program about the increasing amount of pharmaceutical drugs found in water sources. Wallis wanted to address the problem by seeing if Princeton could adopt the Prescription Pill and Drug Disposal program, called P2D2, founded in Pontiac. “It was a very important program,” Wallis said. Wallis brought the idea to Princeton Police Department, which in turn discussed it with Community Partners Against Substance Abuse, a community organization with members in Bureau and Putnam counties. From there, a number of entities worked together to establish P2D2 drop-off sites in the two counties. The first box was set up in 2010. Now, boxes are located at four locations in the two-county area — Princeton Police Department, Spring Valley Police Department, Bureau County Sheriff’s Office and Putnam County Sheriff’s Office. “That’s how it got started,” Dawn Conerton, project coordinator for CPASA, said. According to literature distributed by CPASA, a study of more than 130 waterways was conducted in 2002 by U.S. Geological Survey scientists. What they found was concerning. More than 80 percent of the waterways tested contained levels of the following pharmaceuticals — antibiotics, antidepressants, cancer drugs, cholesterol-lowering compounds, hormones used in oral contraceptives, pain killers, seizure medication and tranquilizers. That doesn’t surprise Toni Lawley, a Granville pharmacist. Before P2D2 came along, Lawley, like other pharmacists, would tell people how to dispose of their unused prescription medications. Content Continues Below “I used to tell them to flush them,” she said. The main concern for Lawley was that any unneeded drugs were disposed of — rather than sitting in a person’s house where they could accidentally be ingested by a confused patient or young child, or where they could be knowingly abused by another family member or acquaintance. In addition to the four drop boxes, several pharmacies in Bureau and Putnam counties also will accept unused medications as part of the P2D2 program. But, Lawley said, controlled substances such as narcotics, pain killers and sleeping pills, may only be dropped off at the boxes located at the police departments and sheriff’s departments. The P2D2 program has been a great success in Bureau and Putnam counties, according to Conerton. Between the four boxes in the law enforcement facilities, CPASA was able to collect 800 pounds of unwanted medications from April to October 2011. “It’s unbelievable,” Conerton said. In addition, CPASA participates in the National Take Back Day funded by the Drug Enforcement Agency. The most recent National Take Back Day was in October. “We had a fish tank that was sitting on top of a box,” Conerton said. People were invited to open their pill bottles and dump any unneeded medication into the fish tank to show the volume and variety that could accumulate in just a few hours. “I was amazed by how much we collected,” Conerton said. Following the Take Back Day, the DEA picked up the drugs and incinerated them, preventing them from eventually ending up in local water sources. Wallis, who has used the drop boxes, is pleased with the amount of pharmaceuticals that will never reach the water supply in Bureau and Putnam counties. “The program has been tremendous,” he said.

Full steam ahead on prevention

By Donna Barker - dbarker@bcrnews.com Share on Facebook Share on Twitter PRINCETON — The Community Partners Against Substance Abuse (CPASA) will not rest on past accomplishments but will continue to plan programs and outreaches to help prevent substance abuse, as well as other issues, among area young people, according to CPASA coordinator Dawn Conerton. At Tuesday’s CPASA meeting, Conerton said CPASA will participate today, Thursday, in a Boys Talk Health Fair, set for 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at St. Margaret’s Health in Spring Valley. Boys ages 11 to 15 are invited to attend with a parent, with the fair having a variety of resource information available. CPASA member John Munoz will make a presentation on peer pressure and bullying. A similar program for girls was held Nov. 10 at St. Margaret’s, with CPASA member Claudia Bachman making a presentation. CPASA members Munoz and Princeton Police Chief Tom Root will be the main speakers at a prescription drug abuse assembly Friday morning at Bureau Valley High School in Manlius. The issue of prescription drug abuse has to be taken seriously, Conerton said. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, prescription drug abuse is the fastest-growing drug problem in the United States among 12 to 25 year olds, Conerton said, adding local people can dispose of their unused or expired medications through CPASA’s P2D2 Prescription Drug Disposal Program. “When parents hear about drug abuse they might think of illegal drugs like marijuana or heroin, but often they don’t think about prescription drugs as being a problem,” Conerton said. “It’s critical for parents to become educated about the dangers of prescription drug abuse. It’s also important for everyone to monitor their medicine cabinets or lock them if necessary.” Looking ahead to coming months, Conerton said CPASA will continue to reach out to Bureau and Putnam counties through its programs and services to help impact the lives of young people and their families. Also at the Tuesday meeting, CPASA assistant coordinator Doria Martuzzo said CPASA has two goals, which are to establish and strengthen collaboration between community agencies, groups and the general public within Bureau and Putnam counties and to reduce substance abuse among young people, and in time, adults as well. If the first goal is not reached, then the second one won’t be either, she said. In its communications efforts, CPASA had 19 newspaper articles in the last six months, placed 10 newspaper ads, done a radio spot, put up two billboards and participated in several community events, festivals and walks, Martuzzo told the group. Among the programs hosted or supported by CPASA in the last six months were Project Sticker Shock, a Messages Which Are Hopeful assembly at Princeton High School, Operation Snowball, Illinois Teen Institute, Bassett Training, and bath salts assemblies, all related to various drug, alcohol or peer pressure issues. CPASA, which was organized in 2007 with 40 members, now has 69 members and operates under the umbrella of the Bureau/Putnam County Health Department. Comment on this story at www.bcrnews.com.

Residents can get rid of old medicine

Drug Take Back Day set for Saturday at Alton Law Enforcement Center October 23, 2011 6:20 PM By LINDA N. WELLER ALTON - The city of Alton will participate in the DEA's National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday to enhance its ongoing drug drop-off program. The special effort, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., will be in the entryway of the Donald E. Sandidge Alton Law Enforcement Center, 1700 E. Broadway. Illinois-American Water Co. provided a permanent pharmaceutical drop-off box in September 2010 in the entryway as an around-the-clock depository for citizens to drop off unwanted or unused prescription medications. "They have filled 52, 30-gallon bags of unwanted medications," said Karen Cotton of Peoria, manager of external affairs for Illinois-American. "We've been estimating that a gallon of the medications weighs at least 4 pounds. So based on that estimate, the Alton Police Department has helped to collect and properly dispose of approximately 6,240 pounds of unwanted medications." Locally, Drug Free Alton Coalition and the Alton Police Department are co-sponsoring the Take Back Project. An Alton police officer will be at the drop-off area during the event to collect the medications. Edwardsville and Granite City also are participating in the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's special effort. Edwardsville's four-hour drop-off will be held at RP Lumber, 514 E. Vandalia St.; Granite City's drop-off will be at the Walgreen drug store parking lot, 3732 Nameoki Road. The intent of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is for people to dispose of the drugs safely, without harming the environment or risking someone else ingesting the pills or capsules. The collected materials are incinerated. According to a press release from Melanie Nagel of Drug Free Alton Coalition, the Drug Take Back Day addresses a "vital public safety and public health issue." "Research shows that more than seven million Americans currently abuse prescription drugs," the press release states. "The Partnership for a Drug Free America estimates that each day, approximately 2,500 teens use prescription drugs to get high for the first time. Further research shows that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including the home medicine cabinet." The DEA, in conjunction with state and local law enforcement, has collected more than 309 tons of pills at previous National Drug Take Back Days, the release states. Nearly 4,000 state and local law enforcement agencies throughout the nation have participated in these events. These initiatives began after the U.S. Congress passed legislation amending the Controlled Substance Act, allowing the DEA to develop a process for people to safely dispose of their prescription drugs. President Barack Obama signed the Safe and Secure Drug Disposal Act of 2010 on Oct. 12. The DEA will continue to hold Take Back Days every six months until the process moves beyond the initial development phase, Nagel's release states. People can deposit over-the-counter and prescription medications, cough syrups, vitamins, hormones, painkillers and antibiotics. They cannot drop off hypodermic needles, intravenous solutions, mercury thermometers or oxygen tanks. Cotton said overall, the company has provided grants and drop-off boxes in 22 Illinois locations, with two more coming this year. So far, the program has netted 150,000 pounds of unwanted medications in an effort to keep them from being flushed down toilets or dropped down drains - thereby polluting water systems - or buried in landfills, from which they can leach into soil and groundwater. The water company developed its disposal program based on Pontiac, Ill., teacher Paul Ritter's students' model, which they named P2D2. Students from that school and a school in Antioch, Ill., lobbied for successful passage of HB2056, the first law in the United States to deal with and fund disposal of prescription medications. "The bill enacts an additional $20 fine against anyone convicted of certain drug offenses," Cotton said. "That $20 is placed in a fund to help with costs associated with pharmaceutical disposal programs. That (money) fund will be available in 2012." A second, related bill (HB 3090) that Illinois-American worked on authorizes any Illinois community the use of its police department or city hall to place pharmaceutical drop boxes for collecting unwanted medications, Cotton said. Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn signed both bills into law Aug. 24.

P2D2 Selected For Siemer Milling Company Grant

Pictured left to right are: Richard Siemer, President of Siemer Milling Co., and Mary Perkins, Renee Tillman, and Michelle Loy, Effingham County 4-H Youth Ambassadors. Teutopolis Press-Dieterich Gazette Posted Oct 12, 2011 @ 09:34 AM of the Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation, announces that the Prescription Pill and Disposal Program (P2D2) was selected as the first grant recipient from the Siemer Milling Company Endowment Fund. P2D2 is a program being coordinated by the Effingham County 4-H Youth Ambassadors (ECYA). The purpose of the P2D2 program is to educate the public about the harm done to the environment, and the misuse and abuse of the pharmaceuticals due to the current prescription and non-prescription drug disposal practices worldwide. The mission of the program is to provide communities with proper disposal methods as well as to improve the quality of water for future generations. ECYA members have identified secure locations throughout Effingham County as collection sites. Local law enforcement officials, Mr. John Loy and the Sheriff's Department, assist with the collection of the disposed medications at the different collection sites. Currently there are seven collection locations including: Effingham Sheriff's office; Effingham Government Center; Teutopolis Village Hall; Altamont Police Department; Altamont Pharmacy; Andes Health Mart; and Heartland Human Services. Deposited drugs are collected on a bi-weekly basis, inventoried, and then picked up by a company that disposes of them by incinerating the drugs and turning them back into energy. Pharmaceuticals accepted include antibiotics, anti-depressants, birth control pills, seizure medication, cholesterol-lowering compounds, suppositories, painkillers, pet medications, vitamins and supplements, homeopathic remedies, and all other prescription and over-the-counter medications. All controlled substances can be returned to the police department. The P2D2 Program was initially developed by a group of kids in Pontiac, Illinois. Their Teacher Paul Ritter (a native of Effingham) was instrumental in starting the program that has now gone nationwide. More information about the P2D2 program can be found on the web site, www.p2d2program.org. The Effingham County Youth Ambassador program was started three years ago to make Effingham County a better place and help 4-H members acquire better leadership skills. The 4-H Ambassadors include Mary Perkins, Michael Meinhart, Michael Goldstein, Abby Westendorf, Paige Logan, Brandon Loy, Alexis Ronan, Ben Esker, Ethan Fitzwilliam, Jessica Goldstein, Jesse Haarman, Rachel Tillman, Renee Tillman, Ellen Schumacher, Paul Schumacher, Hayley Hahn and Abby Wolff. Patti Logan and Chely Loy are the program coordinators. The Siemer Milling Company Endowment Fund was established in 2006 with the purpose to provide funding to area programs that support the development of young leaders. It is a component fund of the Effingham County Community Foundation.

Prescription Pill and Drug Disposal Program

What is the Program? The Prescription Pill and Drug Disposal Program is a collaborative effort between local police departments, the Franklin County Prevention Coalition, the Franklin County Health Council, Agricultural Extension Office, Winchester Utilities and Duck River Membership Corporation. The purpose is to educate the public about the harm done to the environment and community due to the current prescription and non-prescription drug disposal practices and to provide them with an alternative way of disposal that ensures the quality of our water and control of prescription drugs on our streets for future generations. Role of the Police Department • Individuals can take their unused and unwanted controlled substances to local participating police departments. • The participating police departments have a secure drop box that individuals can place their substances in- no questions asked. • The substance will be disposed of following proper police procedures. Why is the program important? Many pharmaceuticals are getting past our waste water treatment plants and getting into our drinking water as well as making themselves readily available on the streets. This process of disposal will help to ensure safer drinking water and prevent prescription drug trafficking in our streets for future generations. Why should you participate? • It is the proper way to dispose of medications • It is a proven nationwide tested model • Community cooperation • Environmental stewardship • Drug Abuse Prevention • It’s easy • Because… It is the right thing to do!

Scout targets used drugs Rx disposal plan a hit

Scout targets used drugs Rx disposal plan a hit She did the entire thing on her own — from start to finish. No teacher helped her. -- PAUL A. RITTER, FOUNDER, P2D2 CLINTON — Ashley Peloso was shocked when she read a magazine article that said 80 percent of U.S. water tested by the U.S. Geological Survey had traces of prescription drugs that had been flushed down toilets. Her concern led the 14-year-old student at the Advanced Math and Science Academy Charter School in Marlboro to make the problem her Girl Scout Silver Award project. The result is a shiny red drop box recently set up in the police station lobby for the disposal of old or unwanted pills, ointments, inhalers, and liquid medicines, either prescription or over-the-counter. Even old pet medications can be put into the collection box. Needles, syringes, thermometers, aerosol cans, IV bags and blood-containing or infectious waste products are not accepted. Ashley, a member of Troop 30868, said her research led to an Illinois-based nonprofit organization, P2D2 (Prescription Pill & Drug Disposal), a national collaboration among pharmacies, police departments, and communities to safely dispose of drugs. After discussing her idea with P2D2 founder Paul A. Ritter, an environmental science teacher in Pontiac, Ill., Ashley approached Police Chief Mark R. Laverdure, who agreed to let her place a collection box in the station lobby. The chief, after learning of the box requirements — it can’t just be a wooden, plastic or other type of unsecured container — donated a postal box obtained from the U.S. Postal Service after the post-9-11 anthrax-related scares several years ago. The box was to be used for suspicious envelopes and packages, but has seen little use. Chief Laverdure also agreed to have the contents of the drop box taken to an incineration operation in Wareham every six months. “I was all for it,” the chief said. “There’s a need to get this stuff off of the street so it doesn’t harm the environment.” Ashley spent 50 hours on the project, including a day at the Clinton Olde Home Day in early September explaining the program to fellow residents. She has created fliers and posters chock full of information. The efforts paid off, for she will get the Silver Award at an April Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts Council ceremony. There, she will display items and present a PowerPoint talk, according to a congratulatory letter from Lynn Chaput, Girl Scout program development specialist. Ashley has also been asked to talk about the program at the Clinton Senior Center. Mr. Ritter, who founded the program in 2007, said yesterday he got the idea after his wife, also a teacher, asked him what to do with outdated prescription pills in their medicine cabinet. “I honestly did not know the answer to that. But I knew the answer was definitely not to throw them in the trash, or flush them down the toilet,” he said. That day, he discussed the problem with his students, who helped develop P2D2 in conjunction with Covanta Energy, a prescription disposal business. Besides cleaning up the environment, Mr. Ritter said, the program keeps prescription pain medication, stimulants and tranquilizers out of the hands of people who could abuse them, including young people. Mr. Ritter said his students subsequently wrote legislation that was passed by the Illinois Legislature allowing the program to be available statewide. It has expanded to 17 states, with the first program in Massachusetts starting two years ago in Great Barrington. There is also a P2D2 prescription disposal program in Danvers. “Ashley is an amazing young lady,” Mr. Ritter said. “She did the entire thing on her own — from start to finish. No teacher helped her. She gets it done like no other, and I believe her efforts will be mimicked. “She got the players together and they didn’t blink. It’s easy to do once it’s started, but someone has to start. Someone has to sit down and get the details done,” Mr. Ritter said.

Drug-free efforts

PRINCETON — The Community Partners Against Substance Abuse (CPASA) has received a $125,000 grant to help fight drug and substance abuse in Bureau and Putnam counties. CPASA will receive the $125,000 grant in October through the Office of National Drug Control Policy. CPASA coordinator Dawn Conerton said this is the third year for CPASA to receive this grant, which is part of a five-year federally-funded Drug Free Communities grant program. As long as the local group continues to meet requirements in local drug and substance abuse prevention efforts, CPASA will receive a total of $625,000 through the five-year program, Conerton said. In giving a brief history on CPASA, Conerton said the group was formed in 2007 and received its first federal funding in 2009. “Efforts to keep our youth drug free are critical to healthy and safe communities here in Bureau and Putnam counties. The Drug Free Communities program has recognized the great potential CPASA has to prevent and reduce youth substance abuse and literally save the lives of our youth.” Conerton said. “Continued funding will allow us to sustain current programs, begin new programs, and continue to mobilize our communities around the goal of reducing substance abuse among youth and, over time, among adults.” Looking at the accomplishments of CPASA’s second year of federal funding, Conerton said CPASA has a lot of which to be proud. One accomplishment is the P2D2 program, which is an on-going prescription take-back program. The purpose of the program is to educate people about the harm done to the environment through improperly disposed prescription drugs and to also educate people about the misuse and abuse of pharmaceuticals due to prescription and non-prescription drug disposal practices worldwide, she said. With last year’s funding, CPASA was able to continue to support the P2D2 program at the Princeton Police Department, Spring Valley Police Department, and the Bureau County Sheriff’s Department and to expand the program to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department. CPASA also participated in a national Take Back Day in April and will do so again in October, Conerton said. “The great thing about participating (in P2D2) is that it not only helps bring awareness to the issue of prescription drug abuse, but also gives us a chance to work with the Drug Enforcement Agency,” Conerton said. In other programs, CPASA recently initiated Beverage Alcohol Sellers and Servers Education and Training (BASSET), with a great initial response from local businesses, Conerton said. BASSET training is mandatory in the city of Princeton and highly recommended in the rest of Bureau, Putnam and surrounding counties, she said. In addition, last year’s federal funding enabled CPASA to sponsor 23 students and three adults to the Illinois Teen Institute, a leadership prevention program held at Western Illinois University in Macomb, Conerton said. CPASA also funded several youth-planned and alcohol-free events during the year. Looking to the future, Conerton said CPASA will put the new grant money to good use. “We are going to build on what we’ve done in the past, as well as focus on programs that will affect population-level change,” Conerton said. “One new project will be the development of a plan to help local festival and event planners look more closely at their alcohol-related practices and policies. This funding will enable us to continue to do great things, but we could not do it without our committed coalition members who are truly invaluable.”

PTHS assembly celebrates P2D2 law

Pontiac Township High School student Nora McCune spoke about the importance of the P2D2 program and the recent passage of a law to help make the program statewide. McCune and others spoke during a Thursday morning assembly in the school library. Also speaking was State Rep. Jason Barickman, at right. Late Thursday morning, P2D2 program developers and teachers Paul Ritter and Megan Bozarth, Pontiac Township High School students and State Rep. Jason Barickman gathered in the high school library to celebrate a newly signed law, which will expand the Prescription Pill and Drug Disposal Program (P2D2) statewide. Governor Pat Quinn signed House Bill 2056, the prescription pill and drug disposal fund, into law last week. This bill was inspired by PTHS students and Ritter's P2D2 program. The temperature in the already warm library began to rise as students from multiple classrooms in PTHS gathered on seats and sofas to be updated on the news about their student-inspired P2D2 program. As the temperature rose, so did the excitement level of everyone in attendance causing a staff librarian to remark, “Something big must be going on in here today.” Teacher Megan Bozarth was the first speaker of the morning and her brief summary caught everyone in attendance up to speed on both the program and the significance of the assembly. Students at Pontiac High School began a P2D2 program, which Antioch Community High School wanted to try in their own high school. However, Antioch High School learned there was a problem with funding and upon contacting their state representative, JoAnn Osmond, HB 2056 was crafted. The bill provides funding for the collection, transportation and incineration of unused and or expired prescription drugs. “It was the hard work and dedication of our students that enabled our bill to unanimously pass through the Senate,” Bozarth said. “Last week, on Wednesday, we were able to witness history as a student-initiated bill became law in the state of Illinois.” What inspired Ritter most about the P2D2 program, was the fact that this program was made and sought after by PTHS students with teachers helping to fit all the pieces together. Unlike most situations, where the teacher is pushing the student, it was the students who were constantly pushing the teachers. “They are coming up to you and saying, ‘Can we try this or can we do that?’” Said Ritter. “We are sitting here and taking something that we normally do, but expanding ourselves outside the box to the point where it is making things that we do every day meaningful and worthwhile. We do things that will change not only Livingston County or Illinois, but also our planet. When I talk about this stuff, it’s very easy for me because I am living the American dream. I am living the fact that anybody can have the ability to change the world and I am watching it all first-hand.” Barickman followed Bozarth’s speech with his praise regarding the newly signed bill and the fact that in a time when the Illinois economy matters most, PTHS students were able to create a program that solves a problem without costing the state any money. “One of the things that is great about it, is that it doesn’t cost the state any money and it does just a wonderful thing for the environment,” said Barickman. “The work that you all have done putting this together is the thing that I want to emphasize. I went to Woodland High School and we had shop and football and all the things of high school, but we never pulled ourselves together and really lobbied our government for a change such as you all have done. When you think about the fact that you have changed the law, made a new law, changed government and public policy, it is just a terrific thing. My kudos go to you all and Mr. Ritter for his work. Mr. Ritter now has national attention for all of his efforts as a science teacher and environmentalist and I think it’s great.” After an affirming round of applause for Barickman, student Nora McCune spoke to her peers and teachers about the impact the program made on her life. When McCune first heard about the program, she wasn’t very familiar with Ritter or P2D2. “I didn’t have a lot of science classes,” said McCune. “We started out by making videos to promote the program so that other people could duplicate the program in their own schools and soon enough, the bill was going through the Senate and House. By the time I got back to school, the bill was being signed by Pat Quinn. Being a part of this program has made a huge impact on my life, the environment and the world.” Pontiac Township High School junior Charles Spencer followed McCune’s speech with his own narration of the things he has accomplished through the program over the last year. He talked about speaking at a Chicago convention of high school students and being interviewed on Fox News for a national news story. “I was on national television which was really great and then this year, my junior year, I had the opportunity to go to Chicago and watch the signing of three bills that helped the funding of P2D2,” said Spencer. “Being involved with P2D2 has been a fun and beneficial experience for me. It has given me the opportunity to be involved with my local government and just really see how far you can go with the determination and passion that Mr. Ritter has, to make a change for the better and for our environment.” Ritter said there is a list online of places where people all over the state can take their out- of-date prescription medications to be recycled in a way that is healthy for the environment. “The drop off stations are pretty much everywhere that has a police station or pharmacy in the state of Illinois, “ said Ritter. “The pharmacies are taking non-controlled substances and they go through and dispose of that as well.” The last speech of the morning came from Ritter himself. Ritter spoke about the power that each of his students has to change the world around them, regardless of their cause and also his personal mission to prove that fact to them. “What I am trying to say is this, each of you have a dream. It may not be P2D2, but each of you have a dream,” said Ritter. “Don’t ever allow anyone to hold you back. This bill, these bills, they were kids that said, no holds barred, ‘Were going to change our world’ and they did. This program is people who want to make a difference because it’s the right thing to do. I believe in each and every one of you in this room and I can tell you this right now, if it were not for you, none of this would be possible. The beauty in this whole situation is, we are just beginning. We have a lot of work to do; it’s called the rest of your lives. Standing up for what’s right and what you believe in. More importantly, standing up for what is not right and making sure that you make change. Each of you has the ability. I can tell you today is a great day. I am so proud to be a teacher, I am so proud to be your teacher. Thank you for all you do.”

Pontiac High School students praised for P2D2 Program

By: Kent Casson | September 1, 2011 PTHS students are shown with Jason Barickman Thursday morning (photo by Kent Casson/WJBC). Students and staff members involved with Pontiac Township High School’s Prescription Pill and Drug Disposal Program were recognized for their efforts Thursday morning. A new law recently signed by Gov. Pat Quinn expands the P2D2 Program statewide. PTHS students lobbied lawmakers to pass the expansion and testified for House Bill 5056 before House and Senate committees. The legislation passed both chambers unanimously. State Rep. Jason Barickman, R-Champaign, praised all of the hard work involved with the project. “I went to Woodland High School and we had shop and football, but never pulled ourselves together and lobbied our government for a change such as you all have done,” said Barickman. PTHS students Nora McCune and Charles Spencer have both been involved with the P2D2 Program. “Being a part of this program has had a huge impact on my life, the environment and the world,” said McCune. “Being involved with P2D2 has been a fun and beneficial experience for me. It has given me the opportunity to be involved with my local government and just really see how far you can go with determination and passion,” added Spencer. PTHS Ecology Teacher Paul Ritter said P2D2 is the right thing to do and encouraged people to always follow their dreams, never allowing anyone to hold them back. Barickman co-sponsored the bill in the Illinois House.

Drug disposal program more than class project

It’s not often that students get to see something that started as a class project wind up inspiring new state laws. But Pontiac Township High School students — past and present — can point to recently signed Illinois laws that show you don’t even have to be voting age to make a difference. The Prescription Pill and Drug Disposal Program — P2D2 for short— was begun about four years ago with two goals: keeping expired and unwanted drugs out of our water supplies and out of the hands of those who would abuse them. In addition to Illinois, communities in 15 other states have some form of P2D2, providing places where people can dispose of drugs without the risk of contaminating drinking supplies by flushing them down the toilet and throwing them in the garbage where animals — or people — might get to them. But Illinois is the first state to enact a law to create a special fund to support such programs. Students from Pontiac and from Antioch High School helped lobby for the legislation to bolster this program. Under House Bill 2056, a $20 fee will be tacked on to other fines paid for certain drug convictions, with the money going into a Prescription Pill and Drug Disposal Fund. Money from the fund will be used for grants to help police agencies and others in the“collection, transportation and incineration of pharmaceuticals from residential sources.” A companion bill, House Bill 3090, authorizes municipalities to have suitable containers displayed in city halls or police departments for people to drop off unwanted drugs. Both bills take effect Jan. 1. We’re not clear why specific legislation was needed to authorize use of these containers, and we’re glad many municipalities did not wait for a special fund before participating in drug collection programs — either on an annual or ongoing basis. But the bills signed last week by Gov. Pat Quinn should encourage more communities to get involved. You can find out more about P2D2, including the location of drop off facilities, at www.p2d2program.org. The Bloomington and Normal police departments, as well as several pharmacies in the Twin Cities, are P2D2 drop-off locations. Controlled substances should be taken to police department sites. We commend the students and their teachers for their long-term involvement in this project. And we encourage everyone to take advantage of this program to properly dispose of medications.

Quinn signs P2D2 law

Pontiac Township High School science and ecology teacher Paul Ritter stands holding copies of a law he and his students helped initiate, dealing with safely disposing of unneeded prescription medications. Illinois American Water Company supports the program, as it keeps these drugs from the water supply. There are several disposal containers around town. Most are marked with the cartoon on the poster a student is holding at left at the bill signing ceremony Wednesday in Chicago. Gov. Pat Quinn is behind Ritter. Pontiac, Ill. — On Wednesday Governor Pat Quinn in Chicago signed a bill which creates a pharmaceutical collection and disposal program to ensure safe disposal of extra prescription medication. It was through the initiatives of students from both Antioch High School and Pontiac Township High School who helped develop the P2D2 Bill HB 2056 that Quinn signed. Students from these high schools along with ecology teacher Paul Ritter and Megan Bozarth, governmental teacher, attended the signing. “The students discovered there was no program for disposing of prescription drugs or medicines and developed P2D2 which stands for Prescription Pill and Drug Disposal,” said Ritter. Ritter said there were people from several other states at the bill signing because they are interested in creating the programs in their states. He said there are also seven other states that are already in various stages of having the program. “These kids and their program have inspired a nation,” Ritter said Friday afternoon. He explained that the program is a collaborative effort between communities. Local pharmacies, police departments, hospitals, city officials, students and more. “The purpose of the program is to educate the public about the harm done to the environment, and the misuse and abuse of pharmaceuticals due to the current prescription and-prescription drug disposal practices worldwide. The mission of of this program is to provide communities with a proper method of disposal as well as it ensures the quality of our water and wildlife for future generations,” Ritter said. Students attending the trip included Baylee Ritter, Taylor Ritter, Hannah Dunlap, Vince Dunlap, Charles Spencer, Luke Bartosik, Debi Johnson, Nora McCune and Tiffany Patterson. Recent PTHS grads attending the trip were Amber Brunskill and Beth Guelde.

Prescription medicine disposal program on track

SPRINGFIELD — A prescription drug disposal program inspired by students at Pontiac Township High School is expected to be signed into law today. Gov. Pat Quinn’s schedule calls for him to take action Wednesday on the so-called P2D2 prescription pill and drug disposal program approved by the House and Senate this spring. The measure would add a $20 fee to drug convictions, which would go toward programs designed to safely dispose of prescription drugs. Pontiac students got involved in pursuing the law more than four years ago as part of an environmental effort designed to keep drugs out of the water system. The movement, overseen by Pontiac ecology teacher Paul Ritter, has since spread to other states. The group’s message has been advertised on billboards in Bloomington-Normal, telling people where they can drop off unused medicine. The students have worked with pharmacies and other locations to set-up disposal sites. Inspired by the work of their Pontiac counterparts, students at a suburban Chicago high school convinced their local state representative, JoAnn Osmond, R-Antioch, to introduce the legislation, which was co-sponsored by state Reps. Keith Sommer, R-Morton, and Jason Barickman, R-Champaign. The legislation is House Bill 2056.

Quinn signs law inspired by Antioch High students

NEWS-SUN STAFF REPORT August 25, 2011 10:08PM ANTIOCH — Gov. Pat Quinn signed a new state law Wednesday creating a prescription drug collection and disposal program utilizing local law enforcement agencies across Illinois as a drop-off site for the incineration of unused drugs. House Bill 2056, sponsored by Assistant Republican Leader JoAnn Osmond, R-Antioch, was inspired by the work of an Antioch High School student group, whose members traveled to Springfield in March to testify on behalf of the legislation at a House Environmental Health Committee hearing. Four years ago, an innovative Prescription Pill and Drug Disposal program, called P2D2, was launched by students at Pontiac Township High School in downstate Livingston County who were concerned about the threat of prescription drugs polluting local groundwater. The program has since spread to other communities and states. Antioch High students heard about the program and brought the idea to Osmond. “This exceptional initiative will prevent the contamination of our drinking water, protect wildlife, and help keep drugs out of the hands of teens,” Osmond said. “I commend the students from Antioch High School for their hard work in bringing this important issue to the forefront and helping us shape a positive solution for the benefit of everyone in Illinois when it comes to disposing of unused prescription drugs.” Under HB 2056, local law enforcement agencies across the state would be authorized to collect pharmaceuticals from residential sources and incinerate them safely in a manner consistent with Illinois Environmental Protection Agency standards. Law enforcement agencies would recoup the cost of incinerating the drugs through a $20 court fee added to every drug arrest in Illinois. Each police department that participates would be able to get a grant to cover the cost associated with disposal of prescription drugs collected under the program. HB 2056 passed the Illinois House unanimously on April 7 before securing final approval from the state Senate on May 22. Sen. Suzi Schmidt, R-Lake Villa, sponsored the bill in the Senate.

Prescription Disposal at Teutopolis Village Hall

By Anonymous Teutopolis Press-Dieterich Gazette Posted Aug 24, 2011 @ 09:55 AM The P2D2 program has come to Teutopolis. If you have old prescription medication/pills you wish to dispose of safely, bring the bottles to the Teutopolis Village Hall where you will find a bright yellow prescription drop-off box marked P2D2. All non-controlled, non-hazardous medications, vitamins/supplements, homeopathic remedies, creams, oils, ointments, suppositories, and pet medications can be dropped into the P2D2 drop box for disposal. The program called P2D2 stands for Prescription Pill and Drug Disposal and was started in 2007 in Illinois to help keep prescription medicines out of our waterways. The Teutopolis drop-off box, located in the Teutopolis Village Hall, can be accessed during their office hours on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 8:00am-4:30pm; and Tuesday and Friday from 8:00am-12:00pm. Copyright 2011 Teutopolis Press-Dieterich Gazette. Some rights reserved

Drug disposal program sees overwhelming response

Bill GrimesEffingham Daily News EFFINGHAM — There’s been no shortage of public response to the P2D2 prescription drug disposal program. Friday, 4-H members from the Effingham County Youth Ambassadors Program displayed drugs that have been dropped off in the little more than a month since drop boxes were installed in four locations. The program was set up in an effort to encourage proper disposal of unused prescriptions. “We wanted to provide a service in our community and this seemed like a cool idea,” said youth ambassador Mary Perkins. “I think it’s really awesome that this many people are interested.” The drop boxes — which resemble old mailboxes — were placed in the Effingham County Government Center, Effingham County Office Building, Andes HealthMart Pharmacy and Altamont Pharmacy around June 1. Effingham County Chief Deputy John Loy said he couldn’t even guess the street value of the collected drugs without sorting them out. The program was initiated as a result of concerns that old drugs were being flushed into the water supply. Perkins said the drugs will be incinerated and used as an alternative energy source. While the drugs displayed Friday were legal prescription and over-the-counter medications, Loy said those wishing to dispose of illegal street drugs could also use the boxes with “no questions asked.” Patti Logan, 4-H Community Coordinator for University of Illinois Extension, said the boxes will be a permanent fixture in the community. In fact, the organization hopes to find homes for two more drop boxes. “This is just the beginning,” Logan said. “This program could go on forever.” Boxes are also located at the Teutopolis Village Hall and Altamont Municipal Building. Loy said it’s unreasonable to think that all prescription drug users are taking the time to use the boxes as a disposal site. “This just gives you an idea of what’s out there,” he said. “This is just a drop in the bucket.” Loy said those who use the drop boxes should mark out the name on the prescription. More importantly, he said, the drugs should be in their original container for identification purposes. “If they are not, we have to figure out what they are and that is very labor-intensive,” he said. Bill Grimes can be reached at 217-347-7151 ext. 132 bill.grimes@effinghamdailynews.com.