OSU’s Danielle Powall (left) and Emily Enslen present at the 2019 APhA Institute.
Through Generation Rx at The Ohio State University (OSU), the chapter has enabled its members to provide a wide array of help to almost 11,000 people in the Columbus area. People of all ages were provided with educational tools and resources on the misuse and abuse of prescription drugs. Student pharmacists fostered relationships with educators, legislators, local law enforcement, DEA, patients in recovery, the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, the OSU College of Social Work, children’s museum, family members of persons with active substance use disorder, and local pharmacists.
The decision to get involved in Generation Rx for many student pharmacists comes from personal experience with substance use disorder. Danielle Powall, OSU’s past Generation Rx Chair, has always had a deep passion for educating the public on the potential misuse and abuse of prescription drugs. Danielle stated, “This passion developed as I entered my undergraduate career but grew stronger after my family suffered a tragic loss. In February 2015, I received a call from my mom, and she told me that my cousin Nicholas had suffered an overdose. I initially wasn’t sure exactly what this meant, so I paused and asked if he was in the hospital. She replied with ‘no honey, I’m sorry, he’s gone.’ As she said those words, I heard her voice trail off as she was about to cry. I felt like I had been hit by a truck. I didn’t know how to react. I was angry that this happened, that all these tears and broken hearts quite possibly could have been prevented. I felt regret, running through the memories in my head, trying to see if there was a point where I should have said something, reached out more, or tried to help.”
During her first and second years at OSU, Danielle was asked to speak at the annual Narcotics Overdose and Prevention Education Candlelight Vigil to share her family’s story. Generation Rx has allowed her the opportunity to have a platform to educate the public and fellow professionals on the disease of substance use disorder and the potential risks with prescription medications. Candlelight vigil attendance reached a record of 186 student pharmacists that year.
As Danielle said, “Addiction can happen to anyone, and my passion for Generation Rx is rooted in that statement. As I enter my pharmacy career it was vital to me to make an impact through Generation Rx and help our society understand that addiction is not a choice. It is a disease.”
OSU by the numbers
• GenRx presentations conducted: 13
• Non-GenRx presentation conducted: 8
• Medication take-back events: 2
• Number of individuals that attended presentations/events: 10,584
• Number of individuals reached through education: 1,906
- Adults: 738
- Teens: 392
- Children: 165
- College Students: 611
• Number of individuals reached through public/media relations initiatives: 11,910
• Number of student pharmacists involved in projects: 166
• Number of faculty and staff involved in all projects: 82
• Number of non-faculty involved in all projects: 70
SPM interview with 2017–18 Generation Rx Second Runner-up: The Ohio State University.