You didn’t think there was gonna be a part 2, did ya (click here for part 1)?  Well, I picked up another little – but BIG – tidbit from Major Joanne Bollhofer-White, RPh during the February meeting at the Air Force Officers’ Wives’ Club (Bolling AFB). But, before I share, tell me, what do you do with your expired meds?  Do you throw them in the toilet, down the drain, or right in the trash?

Did you know that there’s a SPECIFIC way to get rid of your old medicines?  Well, to be honest, I actually did know this.  I heard a local DC Fox 5 news report a while back that when you flush your old meds or put them down the drain, traces of those meds can end up in our water supply.  So, that means anyone – children and pets included – can get a little dose of old pain killers and prescription drugs, too.  Definitely not water the way nature intended.

So, what should you do?  You should put them in the trash.  But, there’s more. This is where that little – but BIG – tidbit from Major Bollhofer-White comes in.  Before you put the meds in the trash, pour in some water and add some cayenne pepper or kitty litter.  Sounds like a strange recipe, but the water will destroy the meds and the pepper and kitty litter will deter children and pets from ingesting it should they accidentally find it.  You should wait until the meds absorb the water and then put the whole thing (sealed) directly in the trash.

Unfortunately, there’s a downside.  The medicine bottles will end up in landfills.  There’s no way to reuse and recycle in this situation.  It’s unfortunate that we have to choose between environmental safety and personal well being.

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