Wis. Teen Organizes Successful Medication Disposal Program
Fourteen-year-old Jordyn Schara of Reedsburg, Wis. told Channel 3000 News that it was in her nature to make a difference, and creating a proper medication disposal program was the only solution when she learned that drinking water contains trace amounts of prescription drugs.
The high school freshman’s launch on Sept. 12 was impressive to say the least as she organized the proper disposal of 441 pounds of pharmaceuticals.
A 2008 investigation by The Associated Press found that 250 million pounds of pharmaceuticals are flushed each year by hospitals and long-term care facilities. Photo: Amanda Wills, Earth911.com
“People know that they can’t flush it down their toilets and they can’t keep it in their cabinets, but we’re really not giving them any alternative as to what to do with it,” she told Channel 3000 News. “That’s why I started this program, because people need somewhere to put this stuff, and we’re the safe option.”
Proper disposal for medication continues to be a hot topic as pharmaceutical use grows. A Maine Department of Environmental Protection study reports the use of over-the-counter medications has risen 60 percent since the 1990s.
According to the EPA, some PPCPs do not pose a significant threat, however this isn’t the case for all medications. Because PPCPs do not dissolve easily and don’t evaporate at normal temperatures, they make their way to domestic sewers or waterways and can excrete toxic materials.
Your medication’s label will denote if it can be safely flushed. If it does not, check the FDA’s Web site for a list of flushable medications and the substances that can contaminate waterways.
Schara said the program’s success is just the beginning. She plans to hold a similar event again on Earth Day 2010, and she’s working on implementing a permanent disposal box at the Reedsburg Police Department.
As of June 17th 2011 we have upgraded our comment system to use Facebook comments.
The below comments are closed and are listed for historical purposes.
Dolores
posted on September 15th, 2009 at 10:29 am
Most medications don’t go bad for at least 2-5 YEARS. Throwing them away is a waste. They should be reused or if possible re-issued to people who don’t have insurance. I had 150 epilepsy pills that I couldn’t take because I ended up being allergic. A month’s supply of those pills cost $400.00. My hospical / pharmacy had a reuse policy for pills, so they wouldn’t be a waste. They pay you part of the price of the medications back, and then people get cheaper drugs.
Helen
posted on September 16th, 2009 at 10:46 am
Amanda,
What are PPCP’s?
Chris
posted on September 16th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
Great job Jordyn. You are an inspiration.
Roy Mattison
posted on September 23rd, 2009 at 12:00 am
Reuse is a great solution as long as they can be tested for impurities because not everyone is like us, some freaks put stuff in our kids candy for halloween. But I do like the idea, it would work 99% of the time.
~Mattison
PS. Helen, Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs)
jordyn schara
posted on October 26th, 2009 at 11:29 am
Good point, Dolores. But my program was made for people who were going to throw their medications away anyway. I just wanted to make sure that people were throwing their medicine away the proper way.
Jordyn schara
posted on October 26th, 2009 at 11:31 am
By the way, thank you chris!