Teen Resources
Educate Teens About Using Medications Safely
“My Generation Rx” includes resources designed to educate teens about the importance of using medications safely, as well as teaching teens key skills to turn down invitations to misuse and positive alternatives to cope with the demands of life. These materials could be delivered in formal classroom settings, after-school programming, youth organization meetings, or any other venue with teen audiences.
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Getting Started
This section provides facilitators with a comprehensive guide that contains information to successfully present all of the teen resources. In addition, we’ve included a “Tips & Advice” handout for teens. Facilitators may elect to distribute this handout following an educational program or at an informational booth.
Facilitator Guide
This comprehensive facilitator guide contains information to successfully present “My Generation Rx”, including a Getting Started guide, Activity Snapshots, and a Q&A session guide.
Tips & Advice Handout for TeensPass out this informational handout to educate teens on safe medication practices.
Introductory LetterA letter designed to assist facilitators in introducing the purpose of your educational program and the importance of presenting this information.
Teen Presentation Trips and Tricks
The following video was created to help presenters prepare to present the Teen Toolkit. It includes tips and tricks on everything from talking to teens about safe medication practices, to finding an organization to partner with to playing the games and activities outlined in this toolkit. It is a great resource for first-time presenters!
Teen Presentation Videos
The following videos were created to capture a real-life Teens Toolkit presentation, so viewers can understand how to play certain games and activities while teaching the Generation Rx messages and interacting with teens.
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Activities for In-person Programming
Each activity listed in this section is designed to serve as a stand-alone resource. Along with each activity, we’ve included specific talking points for facilitators. Before implementing any activity, we encourage you to review the “Getting Started” and “Activity Snapshot” from the facilitator guide (see above).
Activity 1: “Medication Safety for Teens” Presentation
An interactive PowerPoint presentation that teaches teens how to safely use medication.
Activity 2: “Champions of Rx” Game
A competitive game that provides a broad overview of the problem, as well as emphasizes how to safely use medication and teaches approaches for turning down invitations to misuse.
Activity 3: “Lead the Scene” Skit-based Activity
A skit-based activity that includes first viewing a theatrical performance, then identifying different choices select characters could have made to ensure more positive outcomes. This activity emphasizes approaches for turning down invitations to misuse, as well as positive alternatives to prescription drug misuse.
Activity 4: “Plot Twists” Skit-based Activity
A skit-based activity that requires teens to identify and perform approaches for turning down invitations to misuse, as well as identify positive alternatives to cope with the pressures of life.
Activity 5: “Minute Activities”
A collection of short, hands-on activities designed for small groups (e.g. icebreakers or resetting a group’s attention during a longer presentation) or for individuals (e.g. engaging teens at an informational booth).
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Activities for Virtual Programming
Out of the five activities listed above, we’ve provided suggestions for adapting four of the activities for virtual use. Below are resources to support delivering the Generation Rx Teen Toolkit within a virtual environment.
Below are the four activities available for virtual programming. The facilitator guides provide recommendations for online adaptations through comments posted as yellow speech bubbles. We have also included the accompanying activity, although no edits have been made to these files (i.e. they are identical to the activity files listed above).
How To Videos
The first video provides guidance on how to adapt the identified activities from the Teen Toolkit for virtual use, along with suggestions for facilitating virtual engagement. The second video puts forth questions to consider when planning your virtual program, including tips from others in the field.
Medication Safety for Teens
An interactive PowerPoint presentation that teaches teens how to safely use medication.
Champions of Rx
A competitive game that provides a broad overview of the problem, as well as emphasizes how to safely use medication and teaches approaches for turning down invitations to misuse.
Lead the Scene
A skit-based activity that includes first viewing a theatrical performance, then identifying different choices select characters could have made to ensure more positive outcomes. This activity emphasizes approaches for turning down invitations to misuse, as well as positive alternatives to prescription drug misuse.
Minute Activities with Online Adaptations
A collection of short, virtual, hands-on activities designed for small groups (e.g. icebreakers or resetting a group’s attention during a longer presentation) or for individuals.
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Other Resources
“The Party” InterACT Video
Ohio State’s INTERACT drama troupe invites high school students to direct actors who portray college kids contemplating the use of prescription drugs at a party. This innovative project was organized by The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy’s Generation Rx. Participants: Interact’s Robin Post and Nicole Kwiek, PhD, The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy.
Smart Moves, Smart Choices
The Smart Moves, Smart Choices website is provided by the National Association of School Nurses with the support of Janssen Pharmaceuticals. It provides sections entitled Get Facts, Take Action, Watch Videos,and Quick Links for parents, teens, and educators. The program also offers a tool kit that enables educators to hold school assemblies about teen prescription drug abuse in their communities.
“Talking to Your Kids About Prescription Drug Abuse”
This brochure was produced by the National Council on Patient Information and Education (NCPIE) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). It provides advice for parents regarding the rising abuse of prescription medications by teens and resources for addressing this phenomenon.
Maximizing Your Role as a Teen Influencer
This program aims to protect teens by reducing prescription drug abuse. The initiative encourages educators, healthcare providers, parents and other “teen influencers” to talk to teens about prescription drug abuse. The program provides easy-to-use materials to help mentors reach out to teens..
PEERx
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health, offers an online initiative called PEERx to educate 13-15 year olds on the dangers of prescription drug abuse. The centerpiece of the initiative is “Choose Your Path,” an innovative video tool that empowers teens to assume the role of the main character and select which path to take at certain points in the drama and then watch the consequences play out onscreen. Other free PEERx resources include: an Activity Guide with step-by-step instructions to help teens organize peers in their school or community group; Peer Into Your Path, a twist on Choose Your Path that invites teens to write their own decision tree-based stories weaving in facts about the effects of prescription drugs; free downloads that can be made into iron-on decals for T-shirts, or posters, wallpaper or stickers; relevant posts from NIDA’s Sara Bellum Blog; and fact sheets.
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