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.