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.”