by Kathryn Sill, Public Relations Writer
Students from Cedarville University’s School of Pharmacy are using their knowledge to help curtail prescription drug abuse in their local community. The pharmacy students are providing antidrug education through its Generation Rx program.
Through Cedarville’s chapter of the American Pharmacists Association Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP), 35 students are presenting education programs to people of all age groups, including high school students.
“The program’s name is GenerationRx because it educates people across all age groups,” said Rachel Bull, a second-year professional pharmacy student from Liverpool, Illinois. “We know that all age groups are affected by prescription drug abuse in some way.”
As part of Generation Rx, the group has presented its message to students at Bellbrook Middle School, Cedarville High School and Miami Trace High School. The group has also spoken to members at Family of Addicts, an addiction support group in Dayton, Ohio, as well H.O.P.E. (Helping Our young People connect with God), a ministry in the Miami Valley region that partners with courts. In collaboration with H.O.P.E., Generation Rx members presented at a church in Xenia where court-ordered juvenile attend weekly sessions. The next Generation Rx program will be held on March 23 at Cedar Cliff Schools.
Presenting to such a wide variety of age groups has challenged the students to refine their messaging. Lauren Williams, a third-year professional student from Cleveland, Ohio, who has presented at multiple locations, attempts to make her presentations interactive so everyone can learn through participation.
“Presenting has taught me not to assume that younger generations are protected from the dangers of prescription drugs,” said Williams. “Just because they are young does not mean they aren’t exposed to prescription drugs, and that’s why it’s important to find ways to reach everyone.”
In addition to its work in the community, Generation Rx is also educating people about Naloxone, a medication that treats an overdose of narcotics. It recently became available for purchase over the counter in Ohio.
Practicing pharmacists can earn continuing education credit through a student-initiated seminar on Naloxone, which will take place at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 5, in the university’s Health Science Center.
Brenda Pahl, Pharm.D., assistant professor of pharmacy practice, will present most of the information at the event, and Bull will collaborate with Samantha Yates, a second-year professional student from Circleville, Ohio in planning and providing some of the content for the Naloxone event.
“The recent decision to allow Naloxone to be sold over-the-counter in Ohio makes it an important topic of discussion,” said Pahl. “We want current and future pharmacists to be knowledgeable when it comes to the specifics of dispensing Naloxone, which will hopefully create a safer community and save lives.”
For more information on Generation Rx or the Naloxone event, contact Generation Rx at genrx@cedarville.edu, Aleda Chen (APhA-ASP Chapter Advisor) at amchen@cedarville.edu, or Brenda Pahl at bpahl@cedarville.edu.
Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 3,711 undergraduate, graduate, and online students in more than 100 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, strong graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings, and leading student satisfaction ratings. For more information about the University, visit www.cedarville.edu.