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Student pharmacists place nationally
A student organization at East Tennessee State University Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy finished among the top service organizations in the country for educating the community about prescription drug misuse.
The college’s American Pharmacists Association-Academy of Student Pharmacists Operation Substance Use Disorders (SUD) committee (formerly Generation Rx) was national first runner-up for the APhA-ASP Operation Substance Use Disorders Chapter Achievement Award in 2020-21. It is the most nationally recognized SUD committee in the country.
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APhA-ASP Generation Rx transitioned to its new name, Operation SUD, in 2021 through a collaboration with Walmart Inc. to expand the breadth and depth of this important initiative.
“Creating virtual trainings and outreach to organizations was crucial during the pandemic because the number of overdoses increased, and the need for overdose education, training of proper naloxone administration, and steps for how to respond to an overdose remained essential,” said Madison Smith (’23), chair of the committee.
Said Dr. Debbie Byrd, Dean of Gatton College of Pharmacy, “We are so proud of these students for their dedication to serving the rural and underserved, the mission of our college. When students enroll at Gatton, they become part of something bigger than themselves, and many are honored to earn awards on the state and national stage for their service to the community.”
Last November, Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy’s Operation Substance Use Disorders instructed Virginia First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin and Governor Glenn Youngkin on best practices for recognizing and responding to opioid overdose emergencies using naloxone at the Washington County Health Department.
“Fentanyl poisoning has become devastatingly prevalent in many areas of Virginia and this nation, and each of us must learn to recognize the signs and learn the tactics to potentially save a life,” said First Lady Youngkin. “It’s time to bond together and support one another, and one way to do that is to be prepared for any situation, including an opioid overdose.”
