DUBLIN, Ohio — The Cardinal Health Foundation and the Ohio State University College of Pharmacy have introduced Generation Rx University, the fourth in a series of interactive toolkits designed to combat prescription drug abuse.
Cardinal said Wednesday that Generation Rx University can be used by college and university students, faculty and staff on campuses nationwide to educate others about the misconceptions, realities and dangers of prescription drug abuse among 18- to 25-year olds.
Generation Rx University was developed by college students for college students and includes discussion-based and performance-based resources intended to help deliver programs on campuses. The material includes PowerPoint presentations and scripts, facilitator notes, workbooks, handouts and posters to spur conversation and educate participants.
In addition, the toolkit also includes a guide for creating a reality skit and encourages actors to remain in character for a question-and-answer session after a theatrical performance.
"The average age when prescription drug abuse starts is around 21," Ken Hale, assistant dean for professional and external affairs at the Ohio State University College of Pharmacy, said in a statement. "It’s critical that our colleges and universities do more to help prevent this potentially deadly behavior, and this new toolkit is designed to help them do that."
The collegiate toolkit was piloted in August at the 2012 Collegiate Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Conference at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, according to Cardinal. The two-day conference, sponsored by the Cardinal Health Foundation and other drug abuse prevention groups, brought together 120 students, faculty and staff from 28 colleges and universities and featured panels of experts, breakout workshops and networking opportunities.
After the conference, attendees were urged to apply for grants up to $2,500 on behalf of their college/university campuses to boost awareness and implement Generation Rx education and prevention tactics. Seven schools received funding: Ohio University-Lancaster in Lancaster, Ohio; Ohio University Foundation in Athens, Ohio; Shawnee State University Foundation in Portsmouth, Ohio; California University of Pennsylvania Foundation in California, Pa.; University of Cincinnati Foundation-James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy in Cincinnati; University of Oklahoma in Norman, Okla.; and University of New Mexico Foundation College of Pharmacy in Albuquerque, N.M.
"The Collegiate Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Conference at the Ohio State University generated incredible awareness and enthusiasm to tackle this issue," stated Dianne Radigan, vice president of community relations at Cardinal Health. "We’re pleased to be able to support schools that are pioneering a concerted effort to prevent prescription drug abuse, and we look forward to collaborating with them again in 2013 to celebrate the results of their work and share best practices."
Cardinal Health added that it has again collaborated with the American Pharmacists Association Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP) to promote Generation Rx University. Since 2010, Cardinal and APhA have worked together to provide an education program to aid pharmacists and student pharmacists in educating their communities about the dangers of prescription drug abuse.
