Gov. Pat Quinn signed a new law authorizing local police departments to collect and dispose of unwanted prescription drugs. The law was inspired by students at Antioch High School who had sought to create a local drug disposal program. Under the new law, people can drop off unwanted medications at participating police stations, which will then incinerate the drugs safely. The program aims to prevent prescription drugs from being flushed down drains or ending up in the wrong hands. Funding for proper disposal will come from court fees assessed in drug-related cases. Students from Antioch and Pontiac Township high schools who had championed the idea attended the bill-signing ceremony.

1. http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20110824/news/708249745/
Lake County updated: 8/24/2011 4:54 PM
Students inspired new drug‐
disposal law
Gov. Pat Quinn on Wednesday signed a law authorizing local police departments to collect and safely dispose of
unwanted prescription drugs.
The law was partly inspired by Antioch High School students who had sought to create a local drug‐disposal
program. A similar effort launched a few years ago at downstate Pontiac Township High School.
Under the law, people will be able to drop off unwanted
prescription medication at participating police stations throughout the state. The medicines then will be
incinerated in a way that meets Illinois Environmental Protection Agency standards.
That will keep the drugs out of landfills, water supplies or the hands of people who'd use them illegally.
Participating departments will receive grants from a new household pharmaceutical disposal fund to cover the
disposal costs. Those grants will be funded by $20 court fees assessed following drug‐related criminal
convictions.
Republican state Rep. JoAnn Osmond championed the legislation in the state House. Republican state Sen. Suzi
Schmidt of Lake Villa introduced the proposal in the Senate.
Osmond was among the lawmakers and advocates who attended Wednesday's bill‐signing ceremony in
Chicago. Students from Antioch and Pontiac Township high schools attended, too.
Osmond praised the students for developing the program and then seeking a statewide funding mechanism.
"They have followed this all the way through," she said. "Those kids were so proud today."
Russell Lissau