Youth RxeAction: A Participatory Video Action Research Project

Background: A 2011 report from the Office of National Drug Control Policy declares prescription drug abuse to be the nation's fastest growing drug problem. Youth engagement in non-medical prescription drug misuse is particularly concerning. In one middle class town in central Connecticut, approximately 40% of high school students reported on a recent district-wide survey that it is ‘very easy' or ‘fairly easy' to obtain prescription drugs. In order to bend this trend, 7 high school students were recruited into a participatory action research (PAR) project designed to reach and change their peers' perceptions through video.

Methods: Youth first developed a research model to identify predictors of prescription drug misuse among their peers. They tested it by interviewing peers who had engaged in this behavior, and analyzed the interview data for common themes. With guidance from the Institute for Community Research and Saint Joseph College School of Pharmacy, they translated themes into scripts and storyboards, and created filmed scenarios. In spring 2012, youth will release the filmed scenarios on YouTube, employing social media channels to augment peer reach.

Results: Youth-action researchers formed a strong advocacy group and created their own health promotion materials through the PAR and video process. Community level effect of the video project will be assessed through a repeat district-wide survey in 2013.

Conclusion: This PAR video project linked local youth, a prevention council, local schools, a research institute, pharmacists, and pharmacy students to increase perceptions of harm associated with diverted prescription drug use.