THE IMPORTANCE OF DRUG EDUCATION

Abstract

Widespread implementation of evidence-based drug education is an important measure to be taken to reduce the incidence of drug-related harms that cost the U.S. billions of dollars and millions of lives each year. Alcohol is an important topic of drug education as it is among the most widely-consumed and easily-available drugs and misuse of it results in deleterious health consequences and immense societal costs. Education to prevent alcohol abuse is most likely to be efficacious if it is implemented in schools for students yet to reach the typical age of initiation of alcohol use and if it is strictly evidence-based. Healthcare providers can effectively serve a role in reducing the prevalence of alcohol misuse among adults by counseling their patients on the risks of alcohol consumption. Illicit drugs, encompassing both illegal drugs and illegal use of prescription drugs, is another important component of drug education to be introduced to adolescents early, regularly, and be school-based. Educational intervention to prevent illicit drug use is most likely to be efficacious if it is focuses on teaching students the cognitive, personal, and social skills necessary to resist the peer pressure that may put them at risk for trying illicit drugs. It is also important that healthcare providers recognize their responsibility to educate their patients on the risk of over-the-counter drugs whenever given the opportunity, as unintentional misuse of over-the-counter drugs results in substantial harm to public health each year. Finally, another source of harm comes from lack of knowledge from healthcare providers as well. Evidence suggests that physicians are not always knowledgeable on potentially harmful drug interactions and that they may reduce their frequency of prescription error when collaborating with pharmacists.