Protecting Water Resources Through Unwanted Medication Collections

James Clark, Penn State Extension Educator, has been based in McKean County, Pennsylvania for 22 years or since July 1, 1989. He is a Water Resources Educator working in the four county areas of Cameron, Elk, McKean, and Potter Counties and serves as the co-chair of the statewide Extension Water Resources Team. Prior to Pennsylvania he served as an Extension Educator in Bennington, Vermont and before that he was an Agricultural Educator in Penn Yan, New York. He is a graduate of Alfred State College with an Associate’s Degree in Animal Husbandry and obtained a Bachelors Degree in Ag Education and a Masters of Arts and Teaching from Cornell University.

In 2009, Clark organized several community partners including PA CleanWays of McKean County, Bradford Regional Medical Center, McKean County Sheriff’s Office, McKean County Commissioners, McKean County Conservation District, PA League of Women Voters Water Resources Education Network ($5,000 grant secured), Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Pennsylvania Department of Health, and Environmental Enterprises, Inc. of Cincinnati, Ohio to conduct an Unwanted Medication Collection Event. On May 16, 2009, 71 residents from McKean, Potter, and Elk Counties dropped off 723 pounds of uncontrolled substances and a bucket and a half of controlled substances at the first Unwanted medication Collection Event held in McKean County and one of the first in the state of Pennsylvania. Thirty-four (48%) of the participants stated they had flushed medications down the toilet in the past. No less than nine agencies and organizations partnered to make this event a success.

A total of 204 people attended one of 10 educational workshops taught by Clark and held in the McKean County area on proper disposal of medications. One hundred and twenty-six (62%) of the participants completed a survey after the workshop and stated because they attended, 34 (27%) would have their water tested, 86 (68%) would participate in an UMC, and 70 (56%) would never flush medications again.

Clark then created a workshop describing the Unwanted Medication Event and shared it with a group in Crawford County, Pennsylvania planning a similar event. They successfully held their own Unwanted Medication Collection. Eleven or 100% of the participants in Clark’s workshop stated the presentation helped them understand how to conduct their own event.

Clark also presented workshops on how to conduct an Unwanted Medication Collection event at the 2009 and 2010 Penn State Ag Progress Days at the Penn State Theatre in Rock Springs, PA. The program in 2010, was taped by the Pennsylvania Cable Network (PCN) and aired several times on TV.

On March 25, 2010, Jim Clark presented information on Pharmaceuticals and Water on the Nutrient Management Webinar entitled Manure DuJour and on November 17, 2010, Clark presented a Pharmaceutical s and Personal Care Products and Water Quality Webinar as part of the Penn State Water Resources Team webinar series. Seventeen people participated in the live presentation on Pharmaceuticals and Water and 13 (76%) stated they would never flush medications again.

On September 25, 2010, Clark organized and activated the McKean County Law Enforcement to participate in the first National DEA Drug Take Back Event held at the McKean County Extension Office in Smethport, PA. Thirty participants delivered over 27 lbs. of unwanted medication to the McKean County Collection site for proper disposal. Seven (23%) indicated they had flushed medications in the past. On April 30, 2011, Clark was responsible for expanding the county to two sites for the National DEA Drug Take Back Program and initiated sites in neighboring Potter County which did not participate in the first event.

In 2010, Clark coauthored an Extension Factsheet with Dr. A.R. Jarrett, entitled “Pharmaceutical Disposal and Water Quality”, which is now a Penn State Agricultural and Biological Engineering Factsheet F175.

During 2010, Clark created a photo story describing the first McKean County Unwanted Medication Collection process for PA. It was shared with interested groups and conservation district watershed specialists throughout the state of Pennsylvania.

He continues to be the lead person on this issue with the Penn State Extension Water Resources Team.

Files

James A Clark Resume

This is the resume of James A Clark nominated for an Individual Program Leadership Award

James A Clark Picture

This is the picture file for James A Clark nominated for an Individual Program Leadership Award

James A Clark Coauthored Fact Sheet

This is a coauthored factsheet by James A Clark nominated for an Individual Program Leadership Award

James A Clark Photo Story

This is a photo story for the Unwanted Medication Program led by James A Clark nominated for an individual Program Leadership Award.