Runninghead: PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE AND EVALUATION

Prescription Drug Abuse Abstract and Evaluation

Gerardo Sanchez
March 15, 2016
Dr. Lewis A. Bonney

Abstract

PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE AND EVALUATION

Drug use has become a prevalent issue that affects adolescents and teenagers. Aside from the use
of illicit drugs, trends indicate that prescription drugs are rising in popularity within these age
group demographics. Many students believe because prescription medications are prescribed by
a medical doctor that they are safer than illicit drugs. Students must be provided with as much
information as possible on this matter to dispel any misconceptions. One of the many roles as a
school psychologist is to be proactive concerning negative social patterns that affect students.
Providing students with Knowledge about prescription drugs, abuse, symptoms, and treatments
can empower students to make better decisions.

Summary of Evaluations

PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE AND EVALUATION

The presentation was delivered to the Eighth grade class in the auditorium. The seventh
grade class was not included because the focus of the presentation was to prepare the eighth
graders with information that may help them make better decisions while in high school where
they will most likely encounter situations that involve drugs. Because of the serious nature of
the topic, the students were not as willing to participate in an open dialogue as they were last
semester with the study skills presentation. Fortunately, handouts were distributed to the teachers
prior to the presentation to enhance an open dialogue about the use of drugs when the students
returned to the classroom. The handouts had open ended questions for the teachers to ask the
students as well as a teacher handout to rate their classs active participation in dialogue and
understanding of presentation. The rating scale was from one to five with five meaning that the
students were completely engaged in dialogue and that the information was understood. Most
teachers responded with a level four rating, while there were a few with level five ratings. Many
teachers approached me later on throughout the day stating that I did a good job.

Self-Evaluation
I believe I did a good job overall, but I think that I was having a difficult time during the
presentation because I feed off the audiences response. These students were extremely quiet. I
normally like to ask the audience questions to check for alertness and add an interactive
component to the presentation, but the students were not having it. After evaluating my
presentation, I believe that some of my questions may have been too direct for individual
students to answer in front of their peers. I believe I would have had more success with the
interactive component by asking the students questions where they could acknowledge by a
show of hands. This was definitely a learning experience. I believe I was extremely confident
going into this presentation because of the success with my last presentation. I believe I failed to
take the seriousness of the subject matter as well as the comfortability level of the students into
account. However, I was pleased with the feedback the teachers gave me, and I know that the
students were able to process the information provided.