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