An enterprising 16-year-old from North Freedom, Wisconsin was disturbed by the rising problem of prescription drug abuse in her local community. Jordyn Schara decided to start P2D2, a non-profit organization that will provide a safe place for parents to dispose of their prescription medications. This simple action will not only benefit the environment, because the pills are not damaging the water supply, but will help reduce the likelihood of teenagers abusing the drugs.

 

Jordyn Schara provided her town with a disposal box. After researching the subject and reaching out to other drug disposal programs, Jordyn gained support and raised awareness of the problem. She spoke at local schools and civic organizations like the Rotary, Kiwanis and Elks clubs. These local clubs also offered Jordyn financial support, which thankfully allowed her to launch her nonprofit HOPE (Helping Our Peers Excel), which is the umbrella organization for Wisconsin Prescription Pill and Drug Disposal (P2D2).

 

In September 2009, P2D2 held its first drug disposal drive at a police station in North Freedom. At that first drive, 440 pounds of prescription medications were collected for disposal. A second disposal drive in April of 2010 netted another 370 pounds of prescription medication. Because of the success of the two disposal drives, Jordyn decided to implement a daily solution to the problem -- a permanent drug disposal box at the police station. Since it costs $3 dollars a pound to properly and safely destroy the pills, Jordyn has started to fundraise to start the program in North Freedom.

 

Since the inception of P2D2, Jordyn Schara has helped several other towns start their own drug disposal programs, and has high hopes that P2D2 will soon be available around the country.

 

"The more people know, the less likely they are to abuse meds."