PeaceJam | WI P2D2 (Prescription Pill and Drug Disposal)

WI P2D2 (Prescription Pill and Drug Disposal)

Restoring Earth's Environment

Affiliate:	Upper Midwest

Club:	youthrive Leadership Team

Location:	United States

Created:	6/29/2010

Last Update:	7/15/2010

Project Goal: My specific goal with P2D2 is to focus on reducing the impact of unused or unwanted pharmaceuticals in our world while working with local youth, volunteers, law enforcement, local, state and national government, teachers, businesses and civic organizations. I wanted to recruit teens to complete a successful, self-sustainable, community service project that worked with their community so that we could be role models for other youth. Furthermore, I wanted to show my hometown and the world that youth have the power to change the world. Root Cause: I discovered that when we dump our expired or unwanted prescription drugs and over the counter (OTC) medicines down the drain or the toilet, they contaminate our groundwater! I had read a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) article that tested 139 streams in 30 states and found trace amounts of common pharmaceuticals like Prozac, codeine, antibiotics, and drugs for high blood pressure in those waterways. While it is yet unknown what the effects of these drugs in our drinking water will be on humans, it is already suspected that there is an adverse effect on wildlife. I was sickened to realize that our precious commodity, water, was in such vital danger from our own hands. Project Plan: I was inspired to create P2D2 in Wisconsin, which stands for Prescription Pill and Drug Disposal. I started my project by diving into environmental and drug collection research and realized early on that drug collection programs were rare and there was no “user’s manual” on how to run one. Once I had worked out the details of my program, my next step was to recruit a team of teen volunteers. I then contacted my local police department, who wanted to help, but didn’t think that the city council would support P2D2so he tried to persuade me to quit. All of the local, state and national environmental agencies also told me that I was too young to tackle this project and refused to help me. It was pointed out to me that there are many legal hurdles to a drug collection and that the pharmaceutical companies are denying that there is any contamination and quietly lobbying our lawmakers to NOT support drug collection programs. This only made me stronger. I made a presentation to my city council and they gave me a standing ovation and pledged money to help P2D2get off the ground. My team and I then met with the Sheriff’s Department, the local hospital and all of the local pharmacists, who also thought that that P2D2 was a fantastic idea and were eager to help. I then made presentations to local businesses and civic organizations for contributions and to help educate the community that the only safe way to dispose of drugs is to turn them into a drug collection program. My police department was so impressed that they quickly jumped on board and even purchased a small incinerator to help with the disposal of the drugs. To promote environmental awareness and encourage positive community involvement (especially with youth), I created a marketing plan for P2D2. My team helped me create and distribute brochures, posters and pamphlets around town and the surrounding communities to educate consumers of the environmental damage that improper drug disposal was doing to our ground water. We created a PowerPoint presentation, had banners made and gave presentations at schools, civic organizations and local businesses. I believe that the most unique and interesting way that I came up with to promote P2D2 was when I had a “Phil the Pill Bottle” mascot costume made and had one of my friends walk around town greeting people and shaking hands (see attached photograph). Needless to say, this was a huge hit. Once the drugs are collected at the police department, the pills, capsules and tablets are incinerated on-site and the remained of the items (lotions, liquids, patches, aerosols, etc.) are sent to a larger burn site in another state.

• What specific problem does this project address? • What research was done for this project? • How was this project decided upon? • How will this project remain ongoing? • How is this project going to make a difference?