APhA-ASP MEMBERS ATTEND UTAH SCHOOL
by Bethany Hipp, President-Elect, APhA-ASP The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy
This June, four members of our APhA-ASP chapter were fortunate to attend the University of Utah School on Alcoholism and Other Drug Dependencies in Salt Lake City, Utah. [The year] 2014 marked the 63rd Annual Session for the “Utah School,” which has incorporated a Pharmacy Section for over three decades. The Pharmacy Section allows pharmacists and student pharmacists from across the country to learn about the disease of addiction and the medical, legal, ethical, and social issues that encompass it. They spent six days discovering the science behind addictive disorders, the impact of marijuana use, and the steps into recovery. Through various 12-step meetings and group therapy sessions, attendees were able to put a face to recovery and all that they had learned. Moreover, GenerationRx representatives from the award-winning chapters discussed the steps we can all take to promote prescription drug abuse prevention in our communities. The experiences at Utah School have allowed hundreds of student pharmacists to gain a greater understanding of addiction and drug dependencies so that we can provide better care to our patients and the members of our communities.