drug disposal program developed in Pontiac

PONTIAC -- A prescription drug disposal program developed in Pontiac continues to spread across the country.

The Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, which works for sustainable solutions to water contamination, soon will have curriculum that allows science teachers to share the Prescription Pill and Drug Disposal (P2D2) program.

"With this partnership (of the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant), it gave us the tools necessary to keep going and to reach out to other educators and communities," said Paul Ritter, a science teacher at Pontiac Township High School.

The Illinois - Indiana Sea Grant is working on The Medicine Chest, which provides free educational material and activities on improper drug disposal and contamination, Ritter said.

P2D2 encourages people to discard unused or expired drugs at special collection sites, not simply to throw them in the trash or down a drain, where they pollute groundwater and drinking water.

P2D2 was developed in January 2008 by developed by Ritter; Eric Bohm, now assistant principal at PTHS; and several students.

"I think this program has been an excellent way to involve people in this kind of work, whether it's students, teachers, police departments, local officials or other community groups," said Dennis McMurray, manager of publications for the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

Ritter said P2D2 is in seven states and in 100 Illinois communities. About 87,500 pounds of drugs have been collected in Illinois since the program began.

"This has just been a dream come true," Ritter said.

Posted in Local on Sunday, November 29, 2009 4:30 pm Updated: 6:58 am.