Class of 2010 Abstract / OBJECTIVES: A comparison of characteristics of current drug disposal programs was conducted to evaluate the sustainability of different programs, and hopefully give a basis for Arizona to make recommendations for starting a state wide drug disposal program. METHODS: A literature search using OVID, MEDLINE, Google, and Google Scholar was utilized to search for current medication disposal programs, and analyzed for different variables including population served, collection sites, program duration, number of participants, pounds collected, cost, and funding. RESULTS: Eighteen programs were compared in the chart. Characteristics such as collection sites, program duration, size of population served, attendance, pounds collected, cost, and funding varied widely. CONCLUSIONS: An appropriate program which is more suitable for Tucson can only be chosen after the amount of funding available is known. Until new medication disposal regulations are implemented, police stations are the best place to set up the medication disposal programs.

Class of 2011 Abstract / OBJECTIVES: To determine whether perceptions of drug disposal among patients are driven by environmental concerns or medication diversion, to determine the preferred method of medication disposal, and to identify related demographic characteristics. METHODS: This was a descriptive cross sectional study. The primary dependent variable is patients' perception of medication disposal. The secondary dependent variables include the impact of income and the preferred method of disposal. Demographic variables include age, medication use, education level, gender, and average household income. RESULTS: The paper survey was completed by 86 patients. Overall, study participants were more concerned with environmental concerns (69.6%, p<0.001) rather than with medication diversion (11.4%) or convenience (19.0%). In the disposal of medications, study participants preferred dropping off medications at a pharmacy (43.8%, p<0.001) to disposing medications at a secure drop off point (17.2%) , crushing medications into coffee grounds (28.9%), or mailing medications to a secure federal collection site (10.2%). Income level of the participants had no impact on their perception of drug disposal or preferred method of medication disposal. CONCLUSION: Patients' perception of drug disposal is more related to environmental concerns than with medication diversion or convenience. Patients' preferred method of medication disposal was pharmacy drop-off as opposed to driving to a secure medication drop off point, crushing medications into coffee grounds, or mailing medications to a secure federal site.