Finding the correct treatment for Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) can involve trying several different or combined medications. This is because medication works differently for each individual and the first medications tried may not work as desired or may have an unexpected side affect and the doctor chooses to stop the medication, often prescribing a different medication. This process can lead to people having several varieties of outdated and no longer prescribed medications sitting in those familiar orange prescription bottles stashed somewhere in their possession. What do you do with the old medication?

Pharmacists, healthcare professionals, and drug manufacturers all recommended extra medication be disposed of properly to avoid any accidental and intentional misuse or overdose once the doctor has stopped that medication. Accidental ingestion of colorful pills sometime happens when small children come across easy to open containers, believe the brightly colorful pills or capsules are candy or they are at the mimic my mommy or daddy stage, and take the medication because I saw mommy or daddy do it.

Intentional overdoses involve someone making a suicide attempt by overdosing and or teenagers who practice pharming. Pharming or Pharm parties are currently a teen trend, and a dangerous one. Pharm parties involve teenagers bringing bottles of prescription medication to get in to the Pharm party. Whether the medication is their medication or someone else’s does not matter.
The variety of pills are mixed into a bowl, and then teens take a handful of the colorful pills and wait for whatever strange feelings may come from the medication.

Yes, this is really happening every weekend somewhere in America. Many teens do not believe ingesting prescription medication is dangerous or illegal and would never participate in ingesting illicit drugs. Pain pills, ADD, and anti-anxiety medication are especially popular and sought after. Since people often keep medication in a bathroom medicine cabinet it is often easy for teens or others who are seeking certain medications to find and acquire the pills. Yet, due to the high humidity in bathrooms it is recommended medication not be kept in that room. Therefore, how does someone properly dispose of medication no longer prescribed?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) discourages people from flushing prescription medication down the toilet unless the manufacturer specifically recommends this method of disposal. Currently there are high levels of many medications testing positive in local water supplies and the impact on people and the environment is still undetermined.

Instead, the Office of National Drug Policy recommends mixing medication with used coffee grounds, and allowing the mixture to sit for a few days before disposing of the container in the trash receptacle. The wet coffee grounds dissolves the pills and capsules which in the end discourages both children and animals from accidentally ingesting the medication if found later. This method also prevents dumpster divers from finding and personally using or possibly reselling the medication illegally.

There is a huge demand for prescription medication both online and on the streets. These medications sell for a big dollar amount to desperate people. On the black market, narcotic pain, anti-anxiety, and ADD stimulant medications often sell for twenty to a hundred dollars per pill and proper disposal of these medications will prevent them from falling into the wrong hands.

Always check with your local pharmacy as some pharmacies take back unused medication in the original container and will dispose of the medication properly. Never throw away your prescription bottles with the medicine enclosed in the bottle. The bright orange colored pill receptacles make them easily seen in the trash and land refills. Remember always remove the label from prescription bottles before discarding them in the trash to prevent anyone from stealing your identification.