Take Care WV RX Abuse Prevention Campaign Continues

County Summits Convene and Pharmacies Use RX Bags w/
Don’t Share Message This Month

Data indicate social access (sharing) is a major contributor to the misuse of prescription drugs. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, most prescription drug abusers obtain their drugs from family and friends. In WV, 64% of nonmedical users of pain relievers reported getting the most recently used drug from a friend or relative for free, and another 7.6% reported buying them from a friend or relative.

Take Care WV, a statewide prescription drug abuse prevention campaign, continues this month through county summits and pharmacy distribution of RX bags with the “Don’t share RX medication.” message.

“This campaign is aimed at changing social/culture norms about sharing prescription drugs,” said Dr. Andy Whisman, Senior Evaluation Specialist with the WV Prevention Resource Center. “West Virginians are a caring people who want to help one another out when the can. Sharing prescriptions, however, is illegal and can be dangerous.”

COMMUNITY DISCUSSIONS/ COUNTY-WIDE SUMMITS: Three dozen (36) counties have partnered with the WV Prevention Resource Center and WV Center for Civic Life to convene multiple discussions and county-wide summits about what communities can do about prescription drug abuse. The community discussions took place across the state this summer, and the summits are set for this month. Additional information about these events (including dates/times/locations/forum participant booklets/forum starter video) is available at www.prevnet.org/communityforums.aspx.

RX BAGS FOR PHARMACIES: All of WV’s 55 counties are participating in statewide use of pharmacy bags with the Take Care WV logo/website/message. Earlier this summer, county partners received large quantities of RX bags (the white paper ones you get your prescriptions in) to distribute to local pharmacies willing to participate. Most pharmacies,
including many individual stores and major chains such as Rite Aid, Walmart/Sam’s Club, Kroger, Fruth, are participating in this effort to make sure all West Virginian’s know it is illegal to share prescription medication, and RX misuse and abuse can be just as dangerous and deadly as illicit drug use. The bags also include the statement: Only take prescription medication as advised by your doctor.


PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS / WEBSITE: In addition to the forums/summits and RX bags, the Take Care WV campaign includes public service announcements (PSAs) and a website. Television, radio, and print ads were developed and are available to download online. During a five-week paid media placement earlier this summer the television PSAs aired more than 3,000 times on cable and broadcast stations across WV. The PSAs are also being distributed by local prevention and media partners. The website links to all PSAs, RX drug facts/statistics, information about proper RX storage and disposal, and a link to the WV Prescription Drug Abuse Quitline.

The Take Care WV Campaign, developed and implemented by the WV Partnership to Promote Community Well-Being and the WV Prevention Resource Center, has been supported with funding from the following grants: 2009 Drug Free WV Grant, WV’s federal Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grant (SPF SIG), and WV’s federal Projects of Regional & National Significance (PRNS) Grant.

WV's 2010 Drug Free Communities Grant Recipients

2010 Drug Free Communities grant funding though the Office of National Drug Control Policy has been awarded to the following prevention coalitions in West Virginia:

•Brooke/Hancock Drug Prevention Coalition (via Brooke/Hancock Family Resource Network)

•Cabell County Substance Abuse Prevention Partnership (via United Way of the River Cities)

•Jackson County Anti-Drug Coalition (via Jackson Co. Health Dept.)

•Marshall County Anti-Drug Coalition (via Marshall Co. Family Resource Network)

•Mercer County’s Creating Opportunities for Youth (C.O.F.I) Coalition (via Community Connections)

•Mingo County’s Strong Through Our Plan (S.T.O.P.) Coalition

•Morgan County Partnership

•Ohio County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition (via Youth Services System)

Additional information is available and/or will be added to www.ondcp.gov/dfc/grantee_map.html.

Congratulations!

September Health Observances/Resources

Childhood / Ovarian / Prostate Cancer Month
Fruit / Veggies / Whole Grains - More Matters Month
Leukemia & Lymphoma Awareness Month
National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month
National Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month
National Cholesterol Education Month
National Infant Mortality Awareness Month
National Pediculosis Prevention Month/Head Lice Prevention Month
National Sickle Cell Month
National Yoga Awareness Month
Reye's Syndrome Awareness Month
Sports and Home Eye Safety Month
National Suicide Prevention Week (Sept 5 -11)
National Celiac Disease Awareness Day (Sept 13)
National School Backpack Awareness Day (Sept 15)
National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day (Sept 18)
National Farm Safety & Health Week (Sept 19-25)
National Rehabilitation Awareness Celebration (Sept 19 - 25)
World Alzheimer's Day (Sept 21)
Rape/Abuse/Incest National Network (RAINN) Day (Sept 23)
Family Health & Fitness Day USA (Sept 25)
National Mesothelioma Awareness Day (Sept 26)
World Rabies Day (Sept 28)
National Women's Health & Fitness Day (Sept 29)
World Heart Day (Sept 30)

SOURCE: www.healthfinder.gov

Currently On Prevention WV: Pharmacists and Community Health

They don’t just dispense medication. Pharmacists are increasingly playing a larger role in the healthcare arena. A recent New York Times article highlights their expanded services, including catching prescription overlap and dangerous interactions, recommending more cost effective medicine, and buffering against the anticipated primary care doctor shortage. On the current edition of Prevention WV, host Michele Burnside talks with Dr. Krista Capehart, pharmacist and assistant professor at the University of Charleston’s School of Pharmacy, who shares insight about the important role pharmacists play in keeping communities healthy. Additional information about Prevention WV is available at www.PrevNet.org.