P2D2 DISPOSAL PROGRAM
SUPPORTING THE PROGRAMS AND EFFORTS OF HIGHLAND PARK HIGH SCHOOL
The goal of the P2D2 program, started by students at Pontiac High School in Illinois, is to keep prescription drugs out of our water supply and out of the hands of children. In Highland Park, the Police Department is teaming up with Highland Park High School's Green School Initiative and the SAVE A STAR
Drug Awareness Foundation to dispose of prescription drugs in an environmentally safe way. Drugs that are disposed of at local collection sites will be collected by the Police and incinerated.
Environmental Motivations
In 2008, Chicago city officials tested drinking water from Lake Michigan. Trace amounts of multiple prescription drugs were found, including a by-product of nicotine, acetaminophen, an anti-seizure drug, and caffeine.
The build-up of these drugs is dangerous to both people and local wildlife who depend on clean water.
There is no way to prevent prescription drugs from entering our water systems if they have been flushed down the drain or toilet. Once in the water, the chemicals become integrated with the water and most treatment plants are unable to remove such chemicals from the water supply. Fish and other wildlife in Lake Michigan are negatively affected by these drugs, showing signs of neurological or physiological damage.
Public Safety Concerns
Why are there unused medications? Four out of five patients leave their doctor's offices with at least 1 prescription. When doctors discontinue medications, unused portions sit in medicine cabinets. When consumers buy over-the-counter drugs in large quantities, they often expire. In both cases, these leftover drugs are easily accessible, and pose a danger to children who may accidentally ingest these drugs, or may be consumed by others who use these drugs for recreational purposes.
In 2006, 700,000 emergency room visits were attributed to prescription drug overdoses. Because chemicals and compounds react with each other, taking certain medications together often proves deadly. Between 1999-2005, unintentional deaths from drug poisoning increased 68.3%, mostly from prescription drugs. An estimated 48 million people over the age of 12 have used prescription drugs for non-medical reasons in their lifetime.
For a listed of controlled substances published by the DEA, click here.
For more information:
On research done in the great lakes:
http://www.greatlakes.org/
On the P2D2 program:
http://p2d2program.org
On drug abuse:
http://www.nida.nih.gov
Contacts:
Tom Koulentes
Highland Park High School
Assistant Principal
TKoulentes@dist113.org
Highland Park
Police Department
Thomas Spanos
Business Liaison Officer
tspanos@cityhpil.com
847-432-7730
Terri Olian,
City Councilwoman
oliancouncil@hpolian.com
SAVE A STAR
Drug Awareness Foundation
info@saveastar.org
847-579-1300
