Abstract
BackgroundPrevention education focused on prescription drug misuse through community-based organizations has been demonstrated as effective in reducing misuse within communities. Collaboration is an essential component to effective community prevention, and when paired with effective strategies like peer-to-peer education and skill building, communities see a shift in their substance use issues. ObjectiveThis study aimed at promoting substance misuse prevention education in schools and high-risk communities through the implementation of a student pharmacist internship program at a regional Prevention Resource Center (PRC). MethodsA student pharmacist internship program was created in 2017 by a state PRC and a school of pharmacy (SOP) to deliver substance misuse prevention education to youth across high-risk counties while providing a valuable public health internship opportunity. Each year, the student pharmacist intern was responsible for implementing prevention and education services through the training of peers and other key community sectors using the Generation Rx program and collecting quality improvement data for their project. Interns were able to determine the approach to delivering the education based on individual interests. ResultsThrough the 5 years of the program, interns have been able to reach a total of 9195 participants across southwest Missouri with prevention education and training. Results from the Missouri Student Survey across 4 specific high-risk counties are reviewed for responses to questions about use, perception of harm of misuse, and availability of prescription and over-the-counter medications over time as compared with overall state responses. ConclusionCollaborative partnerships between PRCs and SOPs may increase the reach and impact of prevention education targeting misuse to a wider audience while providing pharmacy students a unique public health experience.
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