Outcomes
Outcomes
As a research-based program, Generation Rx is committed to evaluating the impact of our resources and advancing the field through scholarship, collaboration, and community engagement.
Generation Rx is dedicated to the practice of community engaged scholarship.
- 3M+ people reached with GenRx messaging since 2007
- 771 Ambassadors trained between 2020-2025
- 2,448 local youth reached by GenRx directly in 2024-2025
Our Commitment
Public Reports
Generation Rx University: Integrating Medication Safety Education into Campus Wellness
Between 2021-2023, Generation Rx led a multi-institutional pilot study to evaluate the effectiveness of the Generation Rx University resources as a prevention education strategy. This report summarizes the key findings of that study.
Citation
Downing, M., Gonzalez, A., Lovatt, B.S., and Kwiek, N. (2023). Generation Rx University : Integrating Medication Safety Education into Campus Wellness. College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University: Columbus, Ohio.
Read the Generation Rx Older University Toolkit Public Report
Generation Rx Older Adult Toolkit Evaluation Report
Between 2021-2022, Generation Rx led a multi-county study to evaluate the effectiveness of the Generation Rx Older Adult resources as a prevention education strategy. This report summarizes the key findings of that study.
Citation
Emptage, RE, Lovatt, BS, Sloan, CD, Li, J, Downing, MN, Summers, KE, Schmuhl, KK. (2024). Generation Rx Older Adult Toolkit Evaluation Report. College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Columbus OH.
Read the Generation Rx Older Adult Toolkit Public Report
Read the peer-reviewed publication evaluating the Generation Rx Older Adult Toolkit
Generation Rx Ambassadors: Evaluating the Impact of Three Pilot Studies
Between 2020 – 2023, Generation Rx led multiple development and research projects focused on the Generation Rx Ambassadors Training course. This report is a summary of those findings, applications, and next steps.
Citation
Schmuhl, K., Downing, M., Lovatt, B.S., Emptage, R., and Kwiek, N. (2024). Generation Rx Ambassadors: Evaluating the Impact of Three Pilot Studies. College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University: Columbus, OH
Read the Generation Rx Ambassadors Public Report
Read the peer-reviewed publication reporting the Pilot Evaluation of Ambassadors
Read the peer-reviewed publication discussing Ambassadors for Veterinary Professionals
Read the peer-reviewed publication evaluating Ambassadors for Nursing Professionals
Awards
2026 Program of Excellence in Engaged Scholarship
Generation Rx was named a top 3 Program of Excellence in Engaged Scholarship in 2026 by The Ohio State University Office of Outreach and Engagement. This award recognizes Generation Rx's commitment to high-impact engaged scholarship
2023 AACP Lawrence C. Weaver Transformative Community Service Award
Generation Rx outreach efforts were recognized as The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy becomes the first to receive the AACP Lawrence C. Weaver Transformative Community Service Award for a second time.
Distinguished Community Engagement Award
in 2019, Generation Rx receives the Distinguished Community Engagement Award from The Ohio State University.
Excellence in Community Partner Engagement Award
in 2018, Generation Rx received the national Excellence in Community Partner Engagement Award from the Engagement Scholarship Consortium.
AACP Lawrence C. Weaver Transformative Community Service Award
In 2017, Generation Rx outreach efforts are recognized as The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy receives the AACP Lawrence C. Weaver Transformative Community Service Award.
Presentations and Other Publications
Related to the Generation Rx Toolkits
Emptage RE, Lovatt BS, Sloan CD, Li J, Downing MN, Summers KE. Generation Rx: evaluation of medication misuse prevention education for older adults. Front Public Health. 2024;12:1441904. Published 2024 Sep 12. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2024.1441904
Read the full article from the National Library of Medicine
Related to Generation Rx Ambassadors
Schmuhl, Kelsey K., et al. “Evaluating the Longitudinal Integration of a Medication Safety Training Program into a Doctor of Pharmacy Curriculum.” American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, May 2026, p. 101993, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajpe.2026.101993. Accessed 14 May 2026.
Read the full article from the American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education
Dush J, Schmuhl KK, Downing MN, Summers KE, Lovatt BS, Miracle TL, and Kwiek NC. “Addressing Medication Misuse in Nursing Education: An Interdisciplinary Collaboration”. Journal of Nursing Education, 2025. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
Read the full article from the Journal of Nursing Education
Downing MN, Schmuhl KK, Summers KE, Sandidge BR, Miracle TL, Pekny C, and Kwiek NC. “Pilot Evaluation of Generation Rx Ambassadors Asynchronous Training to Prepare Students for Medication Safety Outreach”. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 2023.
Read the full article from the American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education
Aarnes, T. K., Schmuhl, K. K., Summers, K., & Sandidge, B. R. “Medication safety education: more than just a human concern?”. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2022.
Read the full article from the American Veterinary Medical Association
College Prescription Drug Study & Other
Baker E, Downing M, Kwiek NC, Regan E, Dionne J, and Miracle T (2023). Differences in Nonmedical Use of Prescription Stimulants Among Fraternity- and Sorority-Affiliated Students. Journal of Sorority and Fraternity Life Research and Practice, 18(1): 43-63.
Baker, Emily. (2022). College Prescription Drug Study: Research Briefs (Academic Variables, Differences by Demographic Variables, Sorority & Fraternity Life). College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University: Columbus, Ohio.
Read the briefs at the Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Drug Misuse Prevention and Recovery
Baker, Emily and Miracle, Tessa. (2022). College Prescription Drug Study: Descriptive Report. College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University: Columbus, Ohio.
Download the full report (PDF)
Downing, MN, Gonzalez, A, Clouner, C, Sandidge, B, and Kwiek, NC. “Generation Rx University Mini-Implementation Grant: Years 1 – 5 Final Report.” Columbus, OH: Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Drug Misuse Prevention and Recovery, The Ohio State University.
Hale KM, Cable GC, Kwiek NC. (2009). Generation Rx: The Abuse of Medications. Ohio Pharmacist, 19(1):17-20.
Silvaroli J., Schmuhl K., & Downing M.N. (2026, April) "Strengthening Youth Medication Safety Education through Community Engaged Scholarship." Research Day, College of Pharmacy, Columbus, OH.
Schmuhl K., Emptage R., Downing M.N., Drerup E., and Casper K. (2026, January) "Longitudinal Integration of a Medication Safety Training Program into a Doctor of Pharmacy Curriculum" Annual Education Symposium, College of Medicine, Columbus, OH.
Silvaroli J. and Downing M.N. (2025, November) "Strengthening Youth Medication Safety Education through Community Engaged Scholarship." Engagement Scholarship Consortium International Conference, Roanoke, VA.
Layton A.K., Downing M.N., Malott J., Schmuhl K., and Casper K. (2024, November) “Evaluation of Professional Pharmacy Student Delivery of Generation Rx Education within a Community Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience.” Research poster presented at: College of Pharmacy Research Day, Columbus, OH.
Generation Rx: Safe Medication Practices for Better Health. Susan Zies, Marie Economos, Ruth Emptage. Poster presentation at the XXV World Congress of the International Federation for Home Economics, Galloway, Ireland. June 25, 2024.
Sloan, C., and Sandidge Lovatt, B. (2023, December). Generation Rx Training. Impacting Mental Health and Well-being by Addressing Stigma in Rural Communities Conference, CFAES, Columbus, OH.
Aarnes, T. K., Schmuhl, K. K., and Sandidge Lovatt, B. (2023, July) “Medication safety education for veterinarians.” American Veterinary Medicine Association, Aurora, CO.
Economos, M., Zies, S., and Emptage, R. (2023, September). “Opioid Response: Safe Medication Practices for Better Health” National Extension Association of Family & Consumer Sciences Annual Meeting, Provincetown, RI.
Economos, M. and Zies, S. (2023, May). “Opioid Response Generation Rx – Older Adult Project.” National Health Outreach Conference, Ithaca, NY.
Schmuhl, K., Emptage, R., Sandidge, B. (2023, April). “Generation Rx Everyday: Incorporating medication safety messaging into your daily practice.” Ohio Pharmacists Association Conference, Columbus, OH.
Mallot, J., Schmuhl, K., Casper, K., Downing, M., and Sandidge, B. (2023, March). “Evaluating the Incorporation of a Medication Misuse and Safety Training Program into a Doctor of Pharmacy Curriculum.” American Pharmacists Association Annual Meeting, Phoenix, AZ.
Baker, E., and Downing, M. (2023, January). “Preventing Prescription Drug Misuse among First-Year Students.” Focusing on the First Year Conference, Columbus, OH.
Gonzalez, A., and Downing, M. (2023, January). “Using Pilot Evaluation Outcomes to Inform Prescription Drug Misuse Prevention Efforts.” NASPA Strategies Conference. Kansas City, MO.
Kwiek, N. and Sandidge, B. (2022, November) “Generation Rx: Safe Medication Practices for Life.” MSU Extension Opioid & Stimulant: Outreach, Education & Training Program. Virtual.
Emptage, R. and Sloan, C. (2022, June) “Generation Rx: Safe Medication Practices for Better Health.” AgrAbility Regional Workshop. Columbus, OH.
Emptage, R., Schmuhl, K., Miracle, T. (2022, April). “Generation Rx and You: Medication Safety in Action”. Ohio Pharmacists Association Annual Conference. Columbus, OH.
Emptage, R., Kwiek, N. (2021, August). “Advocating for Safe Medication Use in Older Adults.” Ohio Rural Health Conference. Virtual.
Miracle, T.L., Downing, M., Summers, K., Schmuhl, K. (2021, August).” Generation Rx Ambassadors: Developing a Prevention Workforce to Prevent Prescription Drug Misuse”. National Prevention Network Annual Conference. Virtual.
Emptage RE. Safe Medications for Better Health. Caregiver Support Network Ohio AgrAbility Program OSU Extension. June 2021.
Downing, M., and Miracle, T. (2021, May). “Prescription Drug Misuse Prevention Strategies for Campus Communities.” Eastern Illinois Higher Education Center. Virtual.
Kwiek, N., Miracle, T., and Sandidge, B. (2021, January). “Generation Rx: Educational Partnerships to Prevent Rx Drug Misuse Across the Lifespan.” CADCA National Forum – Poster Session. Virtual.
Downing, M. and Pendleton, K. (2020, January). “Cultivating Partnerships with Fraternity and Sorority Life for Prescription Drug Misuse Prevention.” NASPA Strategies, New Orleans, LA.
Downing, M., Pendleton, K. (2019, December). “A Plan for Action: Prescription Drug Misuse Prevention within College Communities.” Association for Fraternity and Sorority Advisors Conference, Anaheim, CA.
Pekny, C., Sandidge, B., and Schieber, L. (2019, October) “Generation Rx: How Pharmacy and Extension Leaders are Promoting Safe Medication Practices.” Appalachian Translational Research Network (ATRN) Conference, Columbus, OH.
Kwiek, NC and Sandidge, B. (2019, September) “Generation Rx: Safe medication practices across the lifespan.” Opioid Action Summit, Slidell, LA.
Downing, M. and Pendleton, K. (2019, April) “Prescription Drug Misuse Prevention within Campus Communities.” Rx Drug Abuse & Heroin Summit, Atlanta, GA.
Emptage, RE, Pekny C, Keeler E, Kwiek N. Generation Rx Older Adult Toolkit: Redesigned. The Consultant Pharmacist 2018:33(10):597. [Abstract –peer reviewed]. [Published] Poster at American Society of Consultant Pharmacists Annual Meeting, November 2018. Poster won Top Poster Designation at the ASCP 2018 Annual Meeting.
International
Kwiek NC. (2019) “Generation Rx: A Public-Private Partnership to Promote Safe Medication-Taking Practices”. Talk presented at the University Industry Innovation Network conference, Sydney, Australia.
Domestic
Downing M and Schmuhl K. “Generation Rx: Prescription Drug Misuse Prevention Education Across the Lifespan.” Training Webinars for Delaware Department of Services for Children, Youth, and Their Families. April 14, 2025. Virtual.
Downing M, Emptage R, and Sloan C. “Generation Rx: Prescription Drug Misuse Prevention Education Across the Lifespan.” Continuing Education Webinars for Iowa Department of Health and Human Services Prevention Educators. August 5-6, 2024. Virtual.
Downing, M. (2024, May). “Generation Rx: Prescription Drug Misuse Prevention Education Across the Lifespan”. Statewide Training for Partners in Prevention Event, Lebanon, TN.
Schmuhl K., Downing M., and Pendleton K. (2024, March). “Medication Safety & Harm Reduction Practices for Campus Communities”. HECAOD Virtual Water Cooler Chat. Virtual.
Episode 249: Drug Disposal Quiz Answers. Kelsey Schmuhl, Ruth Emptage, Brittany Sandidge with Kim Newlove. Podcast Panel on Pharmacist’s Voice. October 25, 2023.
Downing, M. (2022, June). “Women’s Substance Misuse and Proven Prevention Strategies.” MJ Housing – Sorority Client Training. Virtual.
Downing, M. and Panelists. (2022, March). “Substance Use Trends.” Kappa Kappa Gamma All Member Experience. Virtual.
Sandidge, B., Downing, M., and Kwiek, N. (2021, March). “Generation Rx University.” Fraternity Executives Association Health & Safety Roundtable.” Virtual.
Downing, M., Schmuhl, K., and Lange J. (2020, December). “A Conversation about Prescription & Illicit Drugs.” PIKE Fraternity Round Table. Virtual.
Downing, M. (2020, November). “Prescription Drug Misuse Prevention Strategies for Campus Communities.” Missouri Partners in Prevention Statewide Coalition Meeting. Virtual.
Downing, M. and Pendleton, K. (2020, February). “Prescription Drug Misuse Prevention within Collegian Populations.” MJ Housing Forum, Indianapolis, IN.
Kwiek, N, Schmuhl, K. (2019, July) “Generation Rx: Safe Medication Practices for Life”. Presented separately as Student and Advisor workshops at AACP Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL
Sandidge, B, Schmuhl K, Kwiek, N. (2019, March). “Generation Rx: Safe Medication Practices for Life”. American Pharmacists Association Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA.
Kwiek NC and Walker B. (2018, March) “Generation Rx: Safe Medication-Taking Practices for Life”. 165th APhA Annual Meeting and Exposition, Nashville, TN.
Hale, K. (2018, April). “Generation Rx, The Future: Interactive Panel” The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy Dean’s Corporate Council, Columbus, OH.