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Drug Abuse Programs-Timely Efforts
Drug Abuse Programs-Timely Efforts Pharmacists and pharmacy students are making an effort to reach out into the community to educate students as well as adults on the dangers of drug abuse. New Mexico pharmacists convened in Albuquerque recently to attend a special "Drug Abuse Speaker's Seminar for Pliarmacists," conducted by the New Mexico Pharmaceutical Association, launching an all-out campaign against drug abuse. Eugene Williams Jr., association president, pointed out, "The pharmacist is a key person in his community to present the hazards of drug abuse; he already has behind him years of professional training on the action of various drugs on the body." The seminar purpose was to better equip the pharmacist to discuss drug abuse in his community's schools, churches, civic clubs and other interested groups. At the conclusion of the meeting, Williams announced the appointment of a committee on drug abuse education headed by Spencer Platt, which will be enlarged to include at least one ' pharmacist for each community in the state. Besides their professional training, the pharmacists will have, available through the association, slides and movies to supplement their presentations. Groups interested in a program on drug abuse are urged to contact the New Mexico Pharmaceutical Association, 4800 Zuni, S.E., Albuquerque, NM 87108, or their community pharmacists. Moving across the country to Georgia, the state pharmaceutical association is sponsoring a mobile exhibit, "Drug AbuseThe Empty Life," which was dedicated last January. The exhibit is housed in a 10- by 43-foot trailer, and after having had a one-week showing in Atlanta, took to the road to visit the largest cities in the state. The exhibit covers five areas-( 1) history of drug abuse in U.S. and resulting legislation, (2) drug abuse today-five classes of drugs abused showing samples and apparatus, (3) results of drug abuse-three case histories of drug abuse, (4) who are the drug abusers? and (5) summary tying all factors involved in drug abuse together. Staying one week in four towns in each of the state's ten congressional districts, the exhibit may be viewed in June, 1st District; July, 10th District; August, 9th District; September, 7th District; October, 4th District, and November, 5th District. A full-day conference on drug abuse education in April was sponsored by the Michigan State Pharmaceutical Association to expand a statewide speaker's bureau. Designed to provide pharmacists with instructions and materials to effectively discuss drug abuse, conference featured several speakers. A conference highlight was a "Tell It Like It Is" panel, consisting of four former drug users . . Seventy-one pharmacists were among 77 health professionals who attended a recent two-day drug education seminar in Minneapolis, co-sponsored by the Minnesota State Pharmaceutical Association and the University of Minnesota continuing pharmacy education department. The program represented third phase in the college's four-phase drug information program. Phases one and two, featuring students and faculty of the college of pharmacy, are presently in operation and more than 30 speaking commitments already have been filled. In addition to listening to recent information on drug misuse and attending workshop groups, each seminar participant received aids including background papers, a set of 41 slides to serve as discussion starters for presentations and a drug display kit. Realizing the need for drug abuse education has involved students at various universities in drug abuse programs. Members of the Student APhA at St. John's University school of pharmacy in this last year formed a speakers' bureau to inform high school students of the dangers of drugs and narcotics. The bureau presented a film on drug abuse and lectures on the hazards of LSD, narcotics, amphetamines, barbiturates and marijuana.
The University of North Carolina school of pharmacy drug abuse education committee has brought the word about drug abuse to high schools in the state during the school year. In addition to its efforts to reaching the high school population, the committee sponsored a high school leadership conference on drug abuse in February, which included discussion groups led by the committee members and a panel talk on "Current Trends in Drug Abuse Education." University of Southern California pharmacy students have contributed their efforts to drug abuse education through a program begun in 1967 and directed at the high school level. Employing different methods through four pilot programs at area high schools, the students refined their program to where it would most effectively reach the high school students. Beginning with the unanimous opinion that the information presented be factual and documented, they did away with dramatization of facts, "scare" tactics and "preaching." After analyzing their format which included three main headings-( 1) definition of drug abuse, (2) definitions and (3) groups of drug abusedL-and having used this format in several of the pilot programs, the students saw that the younger the person delivering the drug abuse information, the more attentive was the audience. It was decided· to eliminate the faculty member as an active participant, leaving the program presentation exclusively to the pharmacy student, alhough the faculty member took part in the question and answer session. In their third pilot program, not only pharmacy students, but students from the law school and department of sociology participated as group discussion leaders. After holding a panel session before 2,700 students, the high school students were split up in small discussion groups. In the summer of 1968, the four pilot programs were analyzed in depth by a faculty and pharmacy student group and all successful methods were retained, while questionable and unsuccessful procedures were discontinued where possible. That fall, a revised format was ready to be tested. Due to graduation of some of the seniors, additional pharmacy students were added and trained. The use of slides was added. In the spring of 1969, a program was started to evaluate the major films available on drug abuse. In addition to the continuation of their program series, the pharmacy students hope to establish a library of current articles and texts, a seminar for high school leaders and provide an avenue of additional information and help for high school students who have a definite problem and desire help by using the pharmacy school or the "free clinic" as a confidential intermediary. Additional plans call for expanded community contact, especially for students in junior high and grammar school. Students at the college of pharmacy, University of Arizona, have been actively involved in a program to educate the public about drug use and misuse. Entirely student-run, the program is organized into a two-phase approach. The first phase has consisted of speaking engagements, in which the students traveled throughout the state giving presentations to elementary, high school, college, and civic and religious groups, This year, the students have presented their material to over 4,000 people. The presentations are given in an informal manner, with a discussion of facts, followed by a question and answer period. As in the University of Southern California students' program, only straight factual information is given with no moralizing or scare tactics. The second phase of the program was the college's annual drug education seminar in April with the topic "Drug Use-Your Decision." The purpose of the seminar was to bring to the university recognized experts in the fields of drugs, drug use and misuse. • Vol. NSIO, No.6, June 1970
299
The University of North Carolina school of pharmacy drug abuse education committee has brought the word about drug abuse to high schools in the state during the school year. In addition to its efforts to reaching the high school population, the committee sponsored a high school leadership conference on drug abuse in February, which included discussion groups led by the committee members and a panel talk on "Current Trends in Drug Abuse Education." University of Southern California pharmacy students have contributed their efforts to drug abuse education through a program begun in 1967 and directed at the high school level. Employing different methods through four pilot programs at area high schools, the students refined their program to where it would most effectively reach the high school students. Beginning with the unanimous opinion that the information presented be factual and documented, they did away with dramatization of facts, "scare" tactics and "preaching." After analyzing their format which included three main headings-( 1) definition of drug abuse, (2) definitions and (3) groups of drug abusedL-and having used this format in several of the pilot programs, the students saw that the younger the person delivering the drug abuse information, the more attentive was the audience. It was decided· to eliminate the faculty member as an active participant, leaving the program presentation exclusively to the pharmacy student, alhough the faculty member took part in the question and answer session. In their third pilot program, not only pharmacy students, but students from the law school and department of sociology participated as group discussion leaders. After holding a panel session before 2,700 students, the high school students were split up in small discussion groups. In the summer of 1968, the four pilot programs were analyzed in depth by a faculty and pharmacy student group and all successful methods were retained, while questionable and unsuccessful procedures were discontinued where possible. That fall, a revised format was ready to be tested. Due to graduation of some of the seniors, additional pharmacy students were added and trained. The use of slides was added. In the spring of 1969, a program was started to evaluate the major films available on drug abuse. In addition to the continuation of their program series, the pharmacy students hope to establish a library of current articles and texts, a seminar for high school leaders and provide an avenue of additional information and help for high school students who have a definite problem and desire help by using the pharmacy school or the "free clinic" as a confidential intermediary. Additional plans call for expanded community contact, especially for students in junior high and grammar school. Students at the college of pharmacy, University of Arizona, have been actively involved in a program to educate the public about drug use and misuse. Entirely student-run, the program is organized into a two-phase approach. The first phase has consisted of speaking engagements, in which the students traveled throughout the state giving presentations to elementary, high school, college, and civic and religious groups, This year, the students have presented their material to over 4,000 people. The presentations are given in an informal manner, with a discussion of facts, followed by a question and answer period. As in the University of Southern California students' program, only straight factual information is given with no moralizing or scare tactics. The second phase of the program was the college's annual drug education seminar in April with the topic "Drug Use-Your Decision." The purpose of the seminar was to bring to the university recognized experts in the fields of drugs, drug use and misuse. • Vol. NSIO, No.6, June 1970
299