While in the US, codeine (by itself) is a C-II drug, there are other countries where you can get raw codeine, nothing else ..
So yeah, they exist both in the US and outsite of the country... will some online pharmacy actually ship you 30mg codeine caps because they say so? Perhaps, maybe not.. and it could get seized..
Whoever said pharmacies throw stuff out is just talking to hear himself speak (or type actually) .. drugs are not casually tossed away, and ALL CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES must be accounted for and disposed of properly... you can find a lose pill or even a few in pharmacy dumpsters, but nothing good... now rinsing out empty narcotic syrup bottles CAN get you high - it may be "empty" but the residue collected from a few will do the trick!
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"I am not one of those weak-spirited, sappy Americans who want to be liked by all the people around them. I don't care if people hate my guts; I assume most of them do. The important question is: 'What are they in a position to do about it?'" (William S. Burroughs)