Getting rid of prescription medications made easier

 

Missouri P2D2 launched a new prescription drug collection and disposal program for St. Louis County residents today with collection boxes available at four St. Louis County Police stations.

Missouri P2D2 is a nonprofit organization dedicated to safe, convenient prescription pill (P2) and drug disposal (D2). The organization is a partnership between St. Louis County Police, St. Louis College of Pharmacy, Missouri American Water, the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District and many other community organizations.

Jacob Van Tuyl, a student member of the Rockwood Drug-Free Coalition and a recent graduate of Rockwood Summit, was on-hand for the unveiling of the collection box at at St. Louis County Police Headquarters. He described the event as a “major unveiling,” indicating that it was an important step forward in encouraging community involvement.

“Correcting this problem isn’t going to happen overnight,” Van Tuyl said. “That’s one of the major reasons for everyone to get involved.”

As an ambassador for the Rockwood Drug-Free Coalition, Van Tuyl is hoping that more and more students will become involved with the group at the high school level.

“We only have about 20 students involved across the district,” he said. He sited activities such as Rockwood Rocks, a high school band event featuring performances of groups from all four district high schools, as one way of encouraging student involvement. Drug and alcohol-free activities are another he noted.

A soon-to-be-student at Lindenwood University, Van Tuyl intends to stay involved with the coalition and to continue to promote community involvement.

To assist with removing unwanted medication from landfills, waterways and the wrong hands, prescription drugs and over-the-counter medicines now may be deposited in collection boxes at:

• St. Louis County Police Dept., North County Precinct, 11815 Benham Road

• St. Louis County Police Dept., Affton Southwest Precinct, 9928 Gravois Road

• St. Louis County Police Dept., South County Precinct, 3031 Telegraph Road

• St. Louis County Police Dept., West County Precinct, 232 Vance Road

“Convenient and safe disposal of unneeded medicines keeps drugs off the street and out of our rivers,” said St. Louis County Police Captain Kenneth Williams, the president of Missouri P2D2. “The new program gives families a safe way to get unused drugs out of household medicine cabinets – reducing the risks of teenagers experimenting with drugs and young children accidentally poisoned.”

Cindy Hebenstreit, St. Louis County director of field operations for Missouri American Water, added, “Missouri P2D2 also gives families an environmentally-responsible way to dispose of unneeded medicines – protecting our rivers.”