Seven students from the Wayland Pro Youth Team and Wahoos attended a facilitator training session with other Allegan County youth to learn about the misuse of prescription drugs and how it affects young people today.
The program, “The pHARMING Effects,” trained students to be able to present in teams to classrooms (middle school or 9th grade health classes) to provide information about prescription drug abuse and prevention techniques.
Pro Youth Team members participating were Kay Hulst, Noelle Oman, Brennan Grimes and Camden Ritz the local Wahoos were Ashton Ordway, Camber Barko and Kayley Bodenberg.
Students who participated learned the following:
- What prescription misuse is and how it is different from using prescribed drugs as intended by a physician (including the link to heroin use)
- The addiction cycle
- Facts and statistics about prescription drug misuse and its consequences
- Learn how individuals and families are impacted by prescription drug misuse
- Learn how to be critical consumers of pharmaceutical advertising and marketing practices
- How to prevent prescription drug abuse through responsible choices, including storage of medications, following school policies regarding use, and educating friends and family about the dangers of prescription drug misuse.