Everything You Need to Know About Prescription & OTC Drugs in 22 Minutes

Gr 7 Up—This brief video is designed to educate viewers about the dangers and the improper use and abuse of prescription and over the counter (OTC) drugs. Two teenage hosts introduce segments featuring information about types of prescription and OTC drugs, their proper and improper use, what each type of drug is used for, and potential health risks. Teens, young adults, and adults all offer testimonials about the hazards of abusing these drugs, including a mother whose son died of an overdose. Testimonials from pharmacists and educators lend credibility to the information. Dramatizations of young people taking pills and looking sick or passing out will capture viewers' attention while emphasizing the hosts' main point: taken improperly, prescription and OTC drugs are just as dangerous as illegal drugs. An excellent addition to the high school health or guidance curriculum.—Amanda Rollins, Northwest Village School, Plainville, CT