The mission of Operation Substance Use Disorder is to educate people of all ages about the potential dangers of misusing prescription medications. In doing so, we strive to enhance medication safety among our youth, college students, other adults in our communities, and seniors. Prescription medications can help us live longer and healthier lives, but any medication has the potential to do harm – especially when misused. 
 

As student pharmacists and future health care providers, you demonstrate how the profession of pharmacy serves as an excellent resource in preventing the morbidity and mortality associated with diabetes. You have the opportunity to take your knowledge outside of the classroom and make a difference for the community. It could be as simple as writing a letter to the editor of a local paper highlighting the impact of diabetes education by pharmacists. It could be as large as conducting blood glucose screenings and foot exams at a major health fair. It all starts with one idea, one chapter, and one community.

​

Since 2009, the College of Pharmacy at The Ohio State University and the Cardinal Health Foundation have partnered to provide open source educational materials that anyone can use to help prevent the misuse of prescription drugs. These ready-to-use resources are designed to provide everything you need to make a presentation or offer a program in your community, school or college.

​

Our core messages are quite simple:

• Only use prescription medications as directed by a health professional.

• Never share your prescription medications with others or use someone else’s medications.

• Always store your medications securely to prevent others from taking them, and properly dispose of medications that you no longer need.

• Be a good example to those around you by modeling these safe medication-taking practices and discussing the dangers of misusing prescription drugs with your family, friends, colleagues, students, or patients.