Knowledgement of college students about drugs disposal

Abstract

This research aims to identify the knowledge of students from Centro Universitário de Jaguariúna (UniFAJ) on proper disposal of medicine, and promote the awareness of these students about the damage caused by improper disposal to health and the environment. It was descriptive research performed through the application of a quantitative questionnaire to identify the knowledge of UniFAJ students about disposal of drugs. The students were approached in the UniFAJ’s library, cafeteria, and classrooms and were invited to participate in the research. Simultaneously guidance to students on disposal of medicines was carried out. It was found that the majority of the interviewees discarded the medicines inadequately, was not aware of the places where the medicines could be delivered for disposal and the consequences of the inappropriate destination. It was identified the immediate need for clarification campaigns for disposal of medicines, promotion of the rational use of medicine, decrease of the accumulation of medicine at homes, possible implementation of collection systems ou reverse logistics of shared responsibility that includes the government, the state, cities, local health surveillance, manufacturers, distributors and pharmaceutical establishments. With this, we could to reduce the environmental impact and the damage to public health in connection to inadequate disposal of this type of residue