Buffington DE, et al. - Researchers sought to assess the drivers of excess controlled substance disposal behaviors via performing this cross-sectional survey study including 152 participants who received treatment with an opioid within the previous 2 years and had possession of unused medication following either switching to a different opioid or discontinuation of pain. unused opioid medication was disposed of by approximately one-third of patients. A significantly higher likelihood of patients disposing of unused medication was observed when patients were educated regarding the significance of and appropriate methods for drug disposal. Patients prescribed an immediate-release/short-acting opioid kept their medication twice frequently when compared to those prescribed an extended-release/long-acting opioid. Drug return kiosks and flushing the medication down the toilet were the most commonly reported methods for disposal. Routine practice of disposing of all unused drugs and instruction from a health care provider comprised the most impactful drivers of unused opioid disposal. The desire to have it on-hand should there be a need to treat pain in the future, were the most common driver of keeping unused medication. A higher likelihood of using a drug take-back service was reported by over 80 % of patients if compensation is offered or if the kiosk was in a location that they visited frequently. Willingness to make a request for an initial partial fill of an opioid prescription was indicated by approximately half of the patients to reduce the volume of unused medication. This study emphasizes that patient awareness about the importance and methods of proper medication disposal are needed to be enhanced, and there is a great opportunity for health care providers to increase patient education efforts.