Post on 16-Jan-2016
transcript
Addressing Prescription Drug Misuse:
Strategies and Evaluation
Sean P. Varano, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Roger Williams University
Bristol, RI
Prescription Drug MisuseChallenges and Opportunities
Challenges• Touches nearly every social and
economic group in communities
• “Legal” nature of Rx drugs makes prevention messaging difficult
• Evaluating prevention strategies, particularly for hidden problems is challenging
• Crafting messages that resonate with diverse populations challenges
Opportunities
• Strong political recognition of the seriousness of problem
• Community-wide interest in addressing issue
• New “technologies” permit flexible messaging strategies
Challenges Create Innovation: Impacts on Program Design
Brockton• Younger populations
accessed via Photovoice campaign and newly designed school-based health curriculum
• Specific outreach efforts to non-traditional partners (e.g., Catholic Churches)
New Bedford
• “Older” populations accessed via culturally-informed social media campaign (Portuguese Kids)
• Training/Awareness campaign with primary care doctors and other medical professionals
• Expansion of Rx drug safety campaigns
Measuring Outcomes:Planning For Evaluation
Brockton• Use of process measures
delineating quantity and quality of campaign reach
• Use of Drug Take Days results
• YRBS data
New Bedford
• Using social media matrices to measure reach of campaigns
• Use of Drug Take Back Day results
• Opiate-involved ED Admissions
Sample Outcomes: Drug Take Back Totals