Learn about our partnerships.
Generation Rx collaborates with many youth and young adult serving organizations to create and promote community resources.
Become an Ambassador.
Ambassadors are trained facilitators who teach safe medication practices in their communities and to their patients using Generation Rx.
Explore the Toolkits.
Explore our audience-specific resources and ways to teach safe medication practices in your local community.
Read our public reports and research.
Generation Rx has received numerous awards recognizing its community-engaged research and public impact.
What does it cost to use the Generation Rx resources?
It is free to download and use the Generation Rx toolkit resources for elementary, teen, university, adult, and older adult audiences. We believe that every community should have access to medication safety education. Our work is possible through funding from our founding sponsor, Cardinal Health, as well as grants, donations, and support from the Ohio State University College of Pharmacy.
Other components of our portfolio include Generation Rx Ambassadors, as well as in-person and webinar-based trainings. These resources do have costs associated with them – please email info@generationrx.org to share your needs and learn more about any potential costs.
Generation Rx programming has taken place in every state in the U.S., as well as in some international settings! And although we are unable to coordinate programming outside of Ohio, we do have a network of partners that may be local to you. Regardless, we aim to provide guidance so that you can reach your program goals.
Contact your local pharmacist or the nearby College of Pharmacy. Since 2007, over 80,000 pharmacists and pharmacy students have used Generation Rx to teach medication safety. They may be local and able to help!
Generation Rx is an excellent tool for enhancing existing drug use prevention strategies. So, it may be worth exploring a partnership with your community prevention coalition, school district, or council of aging to attract more volunteers.
If you plan to work with K-12 aged youth, you should familiarize yourself with the local policies and procedures for engaging with minors before getting started.
Are the Generation Rx resources evidence-based?
It is extremely important that effective sustainable prevention education be made available to educators and communities. While definitions vary across disciplines, the term evidenced-based is most commonly used to describe programming that has met the most rigorous levels of scientific research. Typically, within education, a program that meets the criteria to be called evidenced-based has: a set curriculum and defined learning outcomes, demonstrated a positive effect on student or participant outcomes, been evaluated through multiple-quality studies, using a controlled environment, and finally, has been reviewed by a reputable organizational (e.g., peer reviewed journals and other research or practice entities).
Based on those criteria, Generation Rx has not yet met all the criteria of an evidenced-based program. However, significant effort has been put into recent and ongoing research, across both the toolkits and training resources that Generation Rx produces. Generation Rx meets the criteria of research-based (also known as evidenced-informed) programming. Research-based programs share many criteria with evidenced-based programs. For example, they must have: a defined set of activities and learning objectives, basis in currently available research and best practices, documented research findings showing a positive impact on the learner or participant, and be published or reviewed by at least one reputable organization/scientific body. One of the primary reasons that Generation Rx falls into this category, is that we design our research activities to also be community-engaged, and so we often cannot provide the controlled experimental design that meets those requirements. Our approach, however, allows us to demonstrate positive outcomes, while also learning from community-based partners and prioritizing quality improvements and faster innovation.
We strive to produce high-quality, effective programming. We review our programs for quality improvements and collaborate with our partners in the field to maintain relevance and accessibility at regular intervals. For more detailed information about our outcomes and impact, visit our section for Evaluation & Scholarly Works.
How do I choose which toolkit and/or Generation Rx resource to use?
Generation Rx has a wide range of educational resources available. Keep in mind that many of our activities are meant for small-to-medium-sized groups. So, consider that as you think about your volunteer, material, and/or technology needs. All the Generation Rx activities can be adapted to low or no-tech situations. They can also be used anywhere that a small group can gather—e.g. schools, senior centers, faith-based gatherings, sports team orientations, and many others.
We recommend that our Elementary toolkit resources be used for grades 2-5; however, there are several coloring pages and discussion questions that can be used in grades K-1. We do NOT recommend our resources for children in Pre-K.
We recommend our Teen toolkit for anyone in grades 7-11. Activities emphasizing medication safety knowledge, such as the Champions of Rx game, are also appropriate for grade 6. However, role playing and problem-solving activities, such as Plot Twists, are best used with early high school audiences, where the social and academic scenarios are more relatable and appropriate. For more details, consult the Facilitator’s Guide or contact our team at info@generationrx.org.
Our University Rx toolkit is appropriate for any undergraduate student engaged in a campus environment. Additionally, we have specific, study-proven, resources available for fraternity and sorority life students.
Our Adult toolkit and Patient resources are suitable for most mixed-aged, adult audiences. These resources emphasize medication safety knowledge, storage and disposal practices.
Finally, our Older Adult toolkit is effective for audiences 55+, and is suitable for those living alone, independently as a couple, or in assisted care. The toolkit builds medication safety knowledge, personal health awareness, and advocacy skills.
And remember, there are unique resources available if you are a member of the 4-H or Girl Scout community! See “How can I start a Generation Rx program in my school or local community?”
Do you provide in-person or webinar training opportunities?
Yes, we can provide in-person and webinar-based training in some situations. This option is best for agencies looking to train more than 25 individuals, and which intends to formerly evaluate its local programming. These trainings are customizable for your audience and can focus on just one toolkit, or the entire suite of materials offered by Generation Rx. Our hands-on approach helps to train your audience on best practices for prevention and tips for successful campaigns.
Depending on your individual or agency needs, the online Generation Rx Ambassadors course may be a great option! Contact us by email at info@generationrx.org to inquire about your training needs and gather information about associated costs.
Can I modify the toolkit presentations and resources available at www.GenerationRx.org?
All the materials available on GenerationRx.org belong to the Generation Rx program and Ohio State University College of Pharmacy (OSU). While minor adaptations are acceptable—such as adding an opening slide with your logo or contact information—the slides should not be altered and should reflect the correct ownership to OSU.
The design, content, and teaching techniques laid out in our toolkits are the result of an interdisciplinary team working cooperatively for more than 15 years. We review our toolkit components regularly and strive to make quality improvements that reflect emerging public health concerns and research findings. Thus, changing the content of our materials will likely reduce their effectiveness—and in extreme causes—may cause unintended harm. We do recognize that minor updates may be needed in the interim. If you feel that you have identified a toolkit resource in need of change, please email us at info@generationrx.org.
How can I start a Generation Rx program in my school or local community?
There are several ways that you can get started! If you are a practicing health professional or graduate student, consider how you can incorporate medication safety into your clinic environments. We have several patient-related resources you can download (for traditional and veterinary based settings) and would be happy to talk you through getting started.
If you want to plan a local Generation Rx program, start by visiting the toolkit page that fits your goal. Each toolkit is designed around developmentally appropriate learning techniques and key messages. So, if your event will have multiple age groups, consider that when exploring the website. Each toolkit page is broken up into sections, starting with resources for facilitators in Section 1.
Read the Facilitator’s Guide in Section 1 of the toolkit you plan to use. The guide will walk you through the different activities and presentations of that toolkit. Also in Section 1, we have sample letters for Elementary and Teen toolkits that you can use to approach your K-12 school district. Finally, we have provided demonstration videos for several of our elementary and teen activities. You can find those videos at the end of Section 1.
Are you a member of 4-H or Girl Scouts? In collaboration with the Ohio State University Cooperative Extension, we created the 4-H Medication Safety Activity Book [link], which has been peer-reviewed and is available nationwide. We also collaborated with the Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland Council to create the Generation Rx Patch program [link], which debuted at the 2020 Convention of the Girl in Columbus, Ohio.
What is a Generation Rx Ambassador and how do I become one?
Anyone seeking to conduct Generation Rx programming in their local community should consider becoming an Ambassador. The Generation Rx Ambassadors online course was initially designed to train students in the health sciences on how to use Generation Rx resources in their community outreach and education efforts. In collaboration with the Ohio State University Colleges of Pharmacy, Nursing, and Veterinary Medicine, we have developed multiple customized courses and CE opportunities now available to the public.
The course introduces you to the Generation Rx philosophy, the basics of prevention science and public health, and our collection of educational resources. The self-guided course prepares you to plan and deliver Generation Rx programming in any setting. And it will help you consider how prevention education—and our resources—fit into a broader prevention plan. Learn more by visiting our Ambassadors page.
Does Generation Rx provide any funding or educational giveaways that local community coalitions or school districts can apply for?
Unfortunately, there are no educational giveaways or mini-grants currently available. However, our team is happy to help you brainstorm effective educational giveaways for your programs, based on our programming experience. Contact us by email at info@generationrx.org to learn more.
I have funding to conduct evaluation of my local programming—are there evaluation instruments for the Generation Rx toolkits that I can use?
Yes, it is possible. We have collaborated with organizations at the regional and state levels previously to pilot new resources, training, and evaluation instruments. The Generation Rx team is currently engaged in a multi-year plan to publicize recent research findings and pilot new instruments; thus, we may not be able to share instruments for the specific toolkit you are seeking at this time. Contact us to discuss your specific needs at info@generationrx.org.
