Development of an eLearning tool to educate teens and adults about the dangers of medication misuse and abuse

Purpose: Prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medication abuse is a growing epidemic in the adolescent and adult populations across the country.  As a result, prescription related deaths have exceeded motor vehicle fatalities in New Hampshire (NH).  Contributing factors include lack of education and increased accessibility. The purpose of the study was to create a learning tool to promote medication safety and educate the public about medication misuse and abuse.   

Methods: Six student pharmacists from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS) collaborated with the Community Alliance for Teen Safety (CATS) to create an eLearning tool addressing issues concerning prescription and OTC drug abuse.  The student pharmacists developed scenarios that targeted both adolescent and adult populations and were integrated into a 30-60 minute self-paced interactive web-based program.  Scenarios provide the online participant with a real-life situation specific to medication abuse.  As the participant navigates through the scenario they are faced with challenges and must make choices to proceed.  Once a choice has been made feedback is provided explaining the outcome of the choice.  The participant also has the option to navigate back and make a different choice.  At the conclusion of the program the participant is provided with a final summary and take-away message.

Results: Four eLearning scenarios were developed: two that focused on topics relevant to adolescents and two for adults.  Adolescent topics included: (1) abuse of prescription stimulants, and (2) peer pressure to abuse/misuse prescription drugs.  Adult topics included: (1) dextromethorphan abuse, and (2) diversion, disposal and proper storage of medications. The program will be piloted in the NH Derry Middle School in the fall of 2012.

Conclusion: The eLearning scenarios will serve as an interactive tool for promoting medication safety as well as educating the community about the dangers of medication misuse and abuse.