Prescription Pill and Drug Disposal Program

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Prescription Pill and Drug Disposal Program

• Pontiac Township H.S.

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Where did the idea come from?

• Mr. Ritters wife, Jodee, asked what she should
  do with some unused pharmaceuticals in their
  medicine cabinet.
• Not sure what the correct method of disposal was,
  Ritter posed the question to his students and the
  young ecologists researched the Internet for a
  solution. Process of Inquiry

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Student findings

• Scientists with the United States Geological
  Survey tested over 130 rivers, streams, and
  waterways and detected the presence of
  pharmaceuticals in 80.

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What pharmaceuticals were detected?

• Antibiotics
• Anti-depressants
• Birth control pills
• Seizure medication
• Cancer treatments
• Pain killers
• Tranquilizers
• Cholesterol-lowering compounds

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What about treatment plants?

• Waste water and water treatment methods in the
  United States are not designed to remove
  pharmaceuticals from our water supply.

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Then what?

• Students presented their findings to a group of
  local leaders Daily Leader
• Street Superintendent
• Pharmacy Managers
• Mayor
• Illinois American Water Plant Manager
• Pontiac Waste Water Treatment Plant Manager

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What was created at the meeting?

• P2D2 A collaborative effort between local
  pharmacies, officials, and PTHS students.
• The purpose 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 them with an alternative
  way that ensures the quality of our water for
  future generations.

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How does the program work?

• Individuals take their unused and unwanted
  prescription and non-prescription drugs to
  participating pharmacies.
• Pharmacists take the pharmaceuticals and place
  them into secure bins.
• Please note that only licensed pharmacists and
  assistants handle the returned pharmaceuticals.
• When the bins fill up, pharmacists send them off
  to be incinerated.
• The company that incinerates the pharmaceuticals
  creates energy that is used to power homes and
  businesses.

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How did we get the word out about P2D2?

• Illinois Studies Letter Campaign
• Music Theory Cleaner Water
• Cleaning out the Cabinet
• P2D2 Billboard
• Economics Veterinarian Survey

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What is accepted at Pharmacies?

• All non-controlled medications, which includes
• Prescription and OTC medications
• Pet medications
• Vitamins Supplements
• Liquid medications in leak-proof containers
• Homeopathic remedies
• Suppositories

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How do you bring the pills back?

• Pills are accepted in any packaging, including
  glass, plastic container, baggie (Ziploc) or
  foil.
• Write the name of the drugs on the packaging and
  bring to take-back site.

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How can your privacy be protected?

• A permanent marker is available to mark out your
  personal information.
• Patrons may also remove their labels prior to
  drop off.

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What is done with the medications?

• Three bin system
• Pills
• Ointments, Liquids, Creams, etc.
• Blister packs
• Medications are picked up by Veolia Environmental
  Services and incinerated at various locations

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What should you do with controlled substances?

• Individuals can take their unused and unwanted
  Class II controlled substances to the Pontiac and
  Illinois State Police Departments.
• The departments have secure drop boxes that
  individuals can place their substances in - no
  questions asked.
• The substances are disposed of following proper
  police procedures.

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Is incineration safe?

• Incineration is currently the most
  environmentally safe technology for the safe
  disposal of medications.
• The process is highly regulated by EPA, and
  significantly minimizes contamination of air
  particles compared with other medication
  destruction methods.

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Is data collected?

• We collect statistics in the form of the number
  of pounds collected at each location.
• This is done voluntarily by each location.

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Where is P2D2 in Illinois?

• Coles County
• Grundy County  
• Iroquois County
• Kankakee County
• Livingston County
• Marshall County
• McLean County
• Will County
• Woodford County  

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Why should you create a program of your own?
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Something to ponder

• The public policy of the State and the duty of
  each person is to provide and maintain a
  healthful environment for the benefit of this and
  future generations. The General Assembly shall
  provide by law for the implementation and
  enforcement of this public policy. (Article XI,
  Illinois Constitution.)

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Science Standards

• 11.B.5f Using available technology, prepare and
  present findings of the tested design solution to
  an audience that may include professional and
  technical experts.
• 13.A.4a Estimate and suggest ways to reduce the
  degree of risk involved in science activities.
• 13.B.5b Analyze and describe the processes and
  effects of scientific and technological
  breakthroughs.

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Social Studies Standards

• 14.D.4 Analyze roles and influences of
  individuals, groups and media in shaping current
  debates on state and national policies.
• 15.C.4b Explain the importance of research,
  development, invention, technology and
  entrepreneurship to the United States economy.
• 17.C.5b Describe the impact of human migrations
  and increased urbanization on ecosystems.
• 18.B.5 Use methods of social science inquiry
  (pose questions, collect and analyze data, make
  an support conclusions with evidence, report
  findings) to study the development and functions
  of social systems and report conclusions to a
  larger audience.

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Contact Us

• Eric Bohm
• Pontiac Twp High School
• 1100 Indiana Ave.
• Pontiac, IL 61764
• 815-844-6113
• Paul Ritter
• Pontiac Twp High School
• 1100 Indiana Ave.
• Pontiac, IL 61764
• 815-844-6113

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