What specific problem does this project address? When I read the USGS article, I decided to take a proactive approach to educate my community and the world about the environmental harm done when consumers improperly dispose of prescription drugs and OTC medicines.
I discovered that most people are unsure of how to dispose of their unwanted and expired medications. They usually resort to flushing them down the toilet or the sink or just leaving them in their medicine cabinets. Each of these methods has devastating consequences. When medications are flushed down the toilet or poured down the sink, they contaminate our groundwater, causing problems for humans and aquatic animals. If drugs are thrown out in the trash, they are accessible to children and pets and the medications can still leach into our groundwater.
Our own government was telling its citizens to throw their drugs down the drain and toilet and a popular women’s magazine also stated the same thing just this year. Consumers don’t have any other alternatives available to dispose of these medicines until the pharmaceutical companies finally acknowledge their responsibility and set up drug take back programs in every pharmacy. Until then, I am working to spread P2D2 across the country to give people a safe method of disposing of their medications. |
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What research was done for this project? Our first step was to search the internet and our local library in regards to prescription drug disposal and water contamination. Interestingly, we found several studies and many lawmakers professing that these studies are not confirmed. Who are they protecting...us or the pharmaceutical companies? If even one study simply suggested that there might be contamination, an immediate investigation should have been conducted instead of trying to constantly sweep this under the rug.
I then spoke to our local water treatment plant manager who confirmed that waste water treatment plants are not designed to treat water for pharmaceuticals. I then contacted the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), our local pharmacists, our state’s Department of Natural Resources, various waste management organizations and even the DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency).
Again, there does not exist a plan or template to start your own drug collection program and all of these agencies and organizations did their best to dissuade me from pursuing my goal of cleaning up my hometown’s groundwater. |
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How was this project decided upon? My previous community service project was called Project READ (Reading Equipment for America’s Defenders) in which my brother and I organized a team of teens to collect and ship reading materials to our troops. We eventually collected over 2,000 pounds of books, magazines, games, snacks, candy, cards, DVDs and CD to ship to our troops.
I wanted my next project to be environmentally based and I initially wanted to ban plastic bags in my community but when I read the USGS article and delved further into the research, I couldn’t look at my glass of water without wondering what I was drinking. Many people think that their expensive bottled water couldn’t possibly be contaminated, but there is no difference. Our wastewater treatment plants are not designed to treat for pharmaceuticals.
My experience with WI P2D2 has led me to meet many interesting people in the environmental genre and I believe that my next project will attack those pesky plastic bags. |
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How will this project remain ongoing? By leading this service activity, I hoped to accomplish my goal of making P2D2 self-sustainable. What I actually accomplished was the creation of the first teen-driven, self-sustainable, drug collection program in the world!! The police chief was so impressed with our project that his department was able to purchase an incinerator to help with the disposal of the pills. We were also able to secure a permanent drop off box that is installed in the police department so I don’t have to schedule special ‘events’ to collect the drugs, and the community has come together to commit funds to pay for the disposal costs year-round.
I was able to involve our whole community by having: the local businesses donate food and supplies for the event; local newspapers to run stories (before, during and after the event), the county health department to do a free mercury thermometer swap in which the patrons received a free digital thermometer for each mercury thermometer that they brought in; a local pharmacist to do a flu shot clinic; the hospital to conduct a free sharps disposal; a beverage distributor to make and donate two large signs; the sheriff’s department to transport the drugs to the incinerator for free; the police department to host the event; teen and adult volunteers to help man the event; the local pharmacies to each “donate” a pharmacists for the day; local businesses to put flyers up and messages on their sign boards; the Chamber to advertise the event; the television stations to attend and promote the event; and the magazines and websites to interview P2D2 to further promote awareness.
Currently, I am in the process of turning my local project over to the police department so that I can focus on helping other communities start their own programs and make them self-sufficient also. |
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How is this project going to make a difference? I am proud to say that the first drug disposal event in my hometown was a monumental success! We collected over 440 pounds of drugs, mercury and sharps. The cost to dispose of this household hazardous waste is $3/pound and so far I have raised over $5,000. My second event was just as successful and collected over 370 pounds of drugs.
My project has clearly made a difference in our community and world because it has now spread to eleven (11) states and is responsible for collecting over 100,000 pounds of drugs!!
Another difference that P2D2 has made is that many people are saving their drugs in their medicine cabinets either because they don’t know what to do with them, there isn’t a drug drop off box in their area, or they just forget about them. These people are targets for family and friends who have addictions and steal the drugs. Leaving drugs unsecured in a medicine cabinet is a deadly temptation. Teen prescription drug abuse is an epidemic. More people abuse prescription drugs then cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine combined. The elderly and small children are among those most vulnerable to misuse of drugs.
The headlines are riddled with stories of celebrities who have died of prescription drug abuse. Unfortunately many more young children, elderly and teens, who have never been famous, have died unnecessarily because of these drugs. |
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