Online Toolkit Designed to Reduce Prescription Drug Abuse Among College Students

An online toolkit called “Generation Rx University” aims to reduce prescription drug abuse among college students. The Ohio State University’s (OSU) College of Pharmacy and the Cardinal Health Foundation have teamed up to introduce the program to help college and university students, faculty and staff on campuses across the country educate others about the misconceptions, realities and dangers of prescription drug abuse among 18-to 25-year olds.

College students are using stimulants, sedatives and painkillers to reduce stress, boost their mood or help them stay up to study. Many teens believe prescription drugs are non-addictive and safer than street drugs.

“The average age when prescription drug abuse starts is around 21,” Ken Hale, an assistant dean for OSU’s College of Pharmacy, said in a news release. “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 toolkit, created by college students, includes scripts and skits that can be used to begin conversations about the myths, realities and dangers of prescription drug abuse, according to The Columbus Dispatch.

Seven colleges received grants of up to $2,500 to implement the program at their schools: Ohio University’s Lancaster campus; the Ohio University Foundation; the Shawnee State University Foundation in Portsmouth, Ohio; California University of Pennsylvania Foundation; the University of Cincinnati Foundation & UC James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy; University of Oklahoma; and the University of New Mexico Foundation & College of Pharmacy.