You may spoil it for others.

Do you remember flushing your medication down the toilet? Don't do that.

I can still remember syringes and drugs were systematically collected at the hospitals I conducted internship.

But for a person, who may only occassionally take any medication, it will be difficult to dispose of his left-over drugs. He may easily flush it down the toilet or drainage.

A new ongoing American research (The AP Investigation reported on the pharmaceutical contamination issue, March 2008) has found out scientific evidence of minute concentrations of pharmaceutical compounds such as antibiotics, anti-convulsants and mood stabilizers in the drinking water supplies of some 46 million Americans.

It may be possible that these variety of drugs' traces will mix up in the river harming aquatic creatures or the river water can also be the source of recycled water for public use.

It could be a proper notion to get rid of your drugs at litter bins or in specially instructed ways.

For us Myanmars, it would be no problem to leave drugs in the toilet as the remains will end up in the soil, but beware if you live on river bank. Be cautious of this and be prepared not to harm yourself and others.