Rx for Addiction and Medication Safety (RAMS-PEER): Evaluation of an Education and Peer Program on Opioid Misuse

Rx for Addiction and Medication Safety (RAMS-PEER): Evaluation of an Education and Peer Program on Opioid Misuse

RESEARCH BRIEF — Volume 17 — May 21, 2020

Tianyu Sun, MS1; Ashley L. Buchanan, DrPH, MS1; Jeffrey P. Bratberg, PharmD1; Emily Patry, MS1; Kelly L. Matson, PharmD1 (View author affiliations)

Suggested citation for this article: Sun T, Buchanan AL, Bratberg JP, Patry E, Matson KL. Rx for Addiction and Medication Safety (RAMS-PEER): Evaluation of an Education and Peer Program on Opioid Misuse. Prev Chronic Dis 2020;17:190380. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5888/pcd17.190380external icon.

PEER REVIEWED

On This Page

• Abstract
• Introduction
• Purpose and Objectives
• Intervention Approach
• Evaluation Methods
• Results
• Implications for Public Health
• Acknowledgments
• Author Information
• References
• Tables

Summary

What is already known on this topic?

Rhode Island adolescents had among the highest estimated prevalence rates of illicit drug use from 2015 to 2016.

What is added by this report?

The Rx (prescription) for Addiction and Medication Safety program was developed to deliver opioid misuse education for Rhode Island public high schools to reverse the trend of illicit drug use. Results found student knowledge of opioid misuse and use disorder improved following a pharmacy-implemented intervention. However, spillover benefits were not observed, indicating that consistent program delivery may be needed.

What are the implications for public health practice?

Our study provides evidence of an effective adolescent opioid misuse awareness program and, perhaps, a foundation for a statewide opioid misuse educational program within Rhode Island public schools.

Abstract

The Rx (prescription) for Addiction and Medication Safety (RAMS) program was developed during the 2017 through 2018 academic year to educate students from 6 selected Rhode Island public high schools about opioid misuse, overdose, and recovery. During 2016, 3 schools participated in the RAMS program and returned for RAMS-PEER in 2017; 3 schools were newly recruited in 2016. Tenth graders returned from schools that participated during RAMS in 2016, and all ninth graders were new. Our study’s aim was to evaluate the overall effect and spillover benefit of the RAMS-PEER intervention from tenth to ninth graders by surveying students both before and after the education program. Survey questions were modified from the 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Survey and the 2015 Ontario Study Survey. Student responses were matched for preintervention and postintervention analysis using a unique identifier. We observed an improvement in knowledge of opioid misuse; however, we found no evidence of a significant spillover benefit.