Cardinal Health Foundation releases video game to raise awareness around prescription drug abuse
DUBLIN, Ohio — In its newest educational program, the Generation Rx Initiative mixes online learning with video games released Wednesday to promote learning about the dangers of prescription drug misuse and abuse. The game can be integrated into parents' and teachers' National Drug Facts Week efforts Jan. 27 to Feb. 2. NDFW is a health observance week for teens that aims to shatter the myths about drugs and drug abuse through community-based events and educational activities on the Web, on television and through contests.
"We were thrilled to bring together a trauma-related activity with Cardinal Health Foundation's long-term commitment to drug abuse prevention education," Gail Wheatley, executive director of Edheads, said "The resulting activity is an engaging way to learn science, learn more about various medical careers, but most of all it's a great way to learn the dangers inherent in abusing prescription drugs."
The online game "Trauma" targets students from middle school to college and allows them to learn by doing. By conducting medical exams and working with the emergency room physician and pharmacist to discover what kind of trauma occurred, students will learn how the abuse of prescription medications played a role in a car accident involving two high school students.
The Cardinal Health Foundation collaborated with Edheads, a non-profit organization based in central Ohio that specializes in educational web development, to design the learning experience. The game is free-of-charge to play and takes 15-20 minutes to complete.
"Edheads' success in teaching science, technology, engineering and math education through online, interactive games matches perfectly with our interest in introducing new and different Generation Rx programming," commented Betsy Walker, community relations manager at Cardinal Health. "It's exciting to educate teens and young adults about a very serious topic like prescription drug abuse in a way that is engaging and non-traditional."
To play "Trauma," students can visit Edheads.org; select "Trauma" from the "Choose an Activity" section; and, click "Start." Users also can download the free Edheads app and play the game on an Apple or Android smartphone or tablet.