Help for Students

INTRODUCTION
Currently, there is evidence to suggest that within the profession of pharmacy, the incidence of alcohol/drug abuse
and addiction is approximately 15-20%. Even more alarming, it has been reported that 19% of pharmacists and 41%
of pharmacy students abuse psychoactive drugs.1 For any manager of a pharmacy or administrator of a
pharmacy school, these reports have serious implications. For example, in a class of 100 pharmacy students,
these numbers would suggest that 2 or more of the students have a problem with chemical dependency. Regardless
of the cause of the chemical dependency, without help and education, the student is in the situation of jeopardizing
their entire career. For decades, The University of Utah School on Alcoholism and Other Drug Dependencies (UUSADD)
has included a pharmacy section (sponsored by the American Pharmacists Association) which addresses and provides
educational opportunities on chemical dependency for individuals at any level in the pharmacy profession including
pharmacy students. The practicing pharmacy professional may obtain continuing educational credit or the pharmacy
student elective credit for attending the conference. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of
attending the UUSADD on attitudes and behaviors of undergraduate pharmacy students (N=87) enrolled in the
block curriculum.

METHODS

The survey population consisted of first and second year pharmacy students enrolled at the University of
Southern Nevada College of Pharmacy (USNCOP). All students are enrolled in the block curriculum method of teaching.
Attendance of UUSADD was part of the requirements needed to fulfill a 4-hour elective credit course provided
by USNCOP. Therefore, attendance of UUSADD was a voluntary decision of each student. The pharmacy students
were administered an adapted alcohol and drug (AOD) survey which addressed AOD use attitudes and behaviors prior
to and after attending UUSADD.1 Each student anonymously completed the survey. The students were informed
that their participation in the survey was voluntary and assured of anonymity.

CONCLUSION
Chemical dependency is all around us in the world we live in today and the media daily exposes us to the consequences of alcohol/drug abuse. Individuals in the profession of pharmacy are not immune to becoming chemically
dependent. As a result, education and knowledge of this potentially career threatening disease to the pharmacy
professional is invaluable. The data from our study suggest that undergraduate pharmacy students enrolled in the
block curriculum were positively influenced in their attitudes and behaviors toward alcohol and drug use after attending
the UUSADD. It is hoped that these pharmacy students who attended the UUSADD will share their new knowledge with
their peers.

REFERENCE
1-Points of Light. A Guide for Assisting Chemically Dependent Health Professional Students.
American Pharmaceutical Association. 1996.

RESULTS

This Page Last Updated: 08/24/10