Every day, about 2,500 people between the ages of 12 and 17 abuse a prescription painkiller for the first time, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The Generation Rx initiative was created to increase awareness of prescription-drug abuse and to encourage prevention.
In support of the initiative, students and faculty from NSU hosted a Generation Rx trivia game on Nov. 7. Undergraduate and graduate students from a variety of NSU professional clubs and organizations answered Jeopardy!-style questions on the following categories: stimulant abuse, prescription opiate abuse, bath-salts abuse, over-the-counter drug abuse, and proper medication disposal.
Also participating were James Munoz, Ph.D., assistant professor at the Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences, who served as host for the trivia game, and Jason Gershman, Ph.D., associate professor and coordinator of mathematics at the college, who kept score.
Students from NSU’s Pre-Dental Club won the competition and received funding for their organization.
The Generation Rx Jeopardy! event was co-hosted by the Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences, NSU’s Neuroscience Club, and the NSU chapters of the American Pharmacists Association’s Academy of Student Pharmacists and the Florida Society of Health-System Pharmacists. The event was co-organized by Mustari Akhi, biology major at the college; Matt Brooks and Bianca Lezcano, doctoral students at NSU’s College of Pharmacy; Jennifer Gershman, Pharm.D., assistant professor at the College of Pharmacy; and Jaime Tartar, Ph.D., associate professor and coordinator of psychology research at the college.